Zero valent iron loaded on SiC nanoparticles as a new adsorbent for removing Pb (lead) and azo dyes from aqueous solution

A reusable silicon carbide nanoparticle supported by nano zero-valent iron (nZVI) is prepared by a simple precipitation method. The results of thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), dynamic light scattering (DLS), vibrating-sample magnetometer (VSM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy with X-ray microanalysis (SEM-EDS), X-ray powder diffraction, and N-2 adsorption isotherms indicated that the zero-valent iron was successfully deposited onto the silicon carbide surface. An investigation into the adsorption ability of this material showed that the SiC nano particle coated with nZVI was expected to form a more active nano composite with higher efficiency for the removal of Pb2+ ions from an aqueous solution. Such findings suggest strong practical applications of modified silicon carbide nano particles with other nano particles as new adsorbents, sensors, as well as for drug delivery and catalysis due to their proper pore sizes, high-specific areas, and high mechanical and chemical stabilities. (c) 2017 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog, 37: 1657-1667, 2018