Green Synthesis and Characterization of Fe-Ti Mixed Nanoparticles for Enhanced Lead Removal from Aqueous Solutions

Heavy metal contamination in water resources presents a significant environmental and public health challenge, with lead being particularly concerning due to its toxicity and persistence. This study reports the green synthesis of Fe-Ti mixed oxide nanoparticles (NPs) using dextrose as a green source...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Shamika P. W. R. Hewage, Harshica Fernando
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-04-01
Series:Molecules
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/30/9/1902
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Heavy metal contamination in water resources presents a significant environmental and public health challenge, with lead being particularly concerning due to its toxicity and persistence. This study reports the green synthesis of Fe-Ti mixed oxide nanoparticles (NPs) using dextrose as a green source and investigates their effectiveness in lead removal from aqueous solutions. The synthesized NPs were characterized using XRD, FTIR, XPS, SEM-EDS, and BET analysis, revealing an amorphous structure with a high surface area (292.89 m<sup>2</sup> g<sup>−1</sup>) and mesoporous characteristics. XPS analysis confirmed the presence of mixed Fe<sup>3+</sup>/Fe<sup>2+</sup> valence states in a Ti<sup>4+</sup>-rich framework, creating diverse binding sites for lead adsorption. The material exhibited optimal lead removal at pH 5, with adsorption following pseudo-second-order kinetics (R<sup>2</sup> > 0.99) and a Langmuir isotherm model (R<sup>2</sup> > 0.98). Maximum adsorption capacity reached 25.10 mg g<sup>−1</sup> at 40 °C, showing endothermic behavior. The low point of zero charge (PZC, 0.22) and surface hydroxyl groups enabled efficient lead binding possibly through multiple mechanisms. Dose optimization studies established 6 g L<sup>−1</sup> as the optimal adsorbent concentration. The synergistic combination of iron’s affinity for heavy metals and titanium’s structural stability, coupled with environmentally friendly synthesis, resulted in a promising material for sustainable water treatment applications.
ISSN:1420-3049