Surface-Modified Fe3O4 Nanoparticles for Heavy Metal Remediation: A Comprehensive Analytical Evaluation of Cadmium and Lead Recovery from Industrial Wastewater

Abstract

This study presents a comprehensive analytical evaluation of carboxyl-modified Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles for the remediation of cadmium and lead from industrial wastewater. The research encompasses detailed method development, validation, and application processes. Surface-modified magnetite nanoparticles were synthesized via co-precipitation and characterized using XRD, and FTIR, techniques, confirming successful carboxyl functionalization while maintaining the core magnetic structure. The analytical method was optimized and validated using atomic absorption spectrometry, achieving detection limits of 0.015 mg/L for Cd(II) and 0.022 mg/L for Pb(II), Sequential extraction studies revealed predominant metal association with exchangeable and reducible fractions (>75%), with removal efficiencies exceeding 72% across all fractions after treatment, with linear dynamic ranges extending from 0.5 to 10.0 mg/L (R² > 0.998). Systematic investigation of operational parameters revealed optimal conditions at pH 6.0-7.0, with equilibrium reached within 60 minutes at room temperature. Under optimized conditions, removal efficiencies exceeded 96% for both metals, demonstrating superior performance compared to conventional treatment methods. The method's reliability was verified through extensive interference studies and successful application to real industrial wastewater samples, achieving recoveries of 96.0-96.7%. This study provides a robust analytical framework for evaluating nanoparticle-based heavy metal remediation systems while offering insights into their practical implementation in industrial wastewater treatment.