Reductive-co-precipitated cellulose immobilized zerovalent iron nanoparticles in ionic liquid/water for Cr(VI) adsorption

Abstract

Microcrystalline cellulose immobilized zerovalent iron nanoparticles (CI-1-3) with different loading of 6, 12 and 24% w/w Fe0 were synthesized by NaBH4 reduction under simultaneous co-precipitation of cellulose from ionic liquid ([BMIM]Cl)-water binary mixture. SEM, TEM, FTIR, VSM, XRD and XPS analysis were carried out to characterize the material. The electron microscopy studies revealed the immobilization of iron nanoparticle in the bulk and surface of microcrystalline cellulose with a size range of 20–100 nm. CI-1-3 showed strong interaction between cellulose hydroxyl moiety and nZVI, immobilized on the polymer and saturation magnetization of 3 emu/g for CI-2. The materials were studied for Cr(VI) adsorption which revealed the qmax value of 28.57, 58.82 and 38.48 mg Cr(VI)/g of CI-1-3, respectively.