Application of modified magnetic nanoparticles with amine groups as an efficient solid sorbent for simultaneous removal of 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid and 2-methyl-4-chlorophenoxyacetic acid from aqueous solution: optimization and modeling

In the present work, functionalized magnetic nano-adsorbent with amine groups (Fe3O4@SiO2@NH2) was prepared for the simultaneous removal of 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and 2-methyl-4-chlorophenoxyacetic acid (MCPA) from aqueous solution. Characterization such as Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, vibrating sample magnetometry, and scanning electron microscope confirmed that the magnetic nanoparticles structure of Fe3O4@SiO2 nano-adsorbent was successfully functionalized by amine groups. The impact of some influencing parameters such as contact time, pH, adsorbent dosage, 2,4-D and MCPA initials concentration and solution temperature were studied. The equilibrium data were analyzed by Langmuir and Freundlich adsorption isotherms and also two models kinetically of pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-order. Findings of the present study showed that the synthesized amino-functionalized MNPs will be helpful in use as an effective recyclable adsorbent for the removal of phenoxy acid herbicides from aqueous solution due to its advantages such as facile and rapid separation of target molecules from solution. © 2017, Iranian Chemical Society