Exploring the performance of magnetic methacrylic acid-functionalized β-cyclodextrin adsorbent toward selected phenolic compounds

Abstract In this study, the removal of bisphenol A (BPA), 2,4-dinitrophenol (2,4-DNP), and 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP) using a new magnetic adsorbent methacrylic acid-functionalized β-cyclodextrin (Fe3O4@MAA-βCD) was evaluated. The materials were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscope, transmission electron microscopy, and X-ray diffraction. The batch adsorption experiments optimized and evaluated various operational parameters such as pH, contact time, sorbent dosage, initial concentration, and temperature. The result shows that DNP possessed the most excellent affinity toward Fe3O4@MAA-βCD adsorbents compared to BPA and DCP. Also, BPA showed the lowest removal and was used as a model analyte for further study. The adsorption kinetic data revealed that the uptake of these compounds follows the pseudo-second order. Freundlich and Halsey isotherms best-fitted the adsorption equilibrium data. The desorption process was exothermic and spontaneous, and a lower temperature favored the adsorption. Furthermore, hydrogen bonding, inclusion complexion, and π–π interactions contributed to the selected phenolic compound’s adsorption