Aplicación de nanopartículas magnéticas de hierro (magnetita) en la adsorción de arsénico en aguas contaminadas

Abstract

The objective of this research consisted of applying magnetic nanoparticles (NPMs) of iron (magnetite) in the adsorption of arsenic (As) in contaminated water. For this purpose, magnetite was synthesized using the chemical coprecipitation method, characterized by optical methods to obtain size and composition data; the NPMs were stored in solution, that is, a ferrofluid with nanoparticles of an average size of 36 nm was elaborated. The determination of the As adsorption level of the NPMs was carried out by atomic absorption spectrophotometry analysis of the amount of As present in the water before and after the treatments with the NPMs. Three treatments were carried out using three different amounts of ferrofluid (0.5 ml/L, 1 ml/L and 2 ml/L). Ten contact times were analyzed in each treatment, with the highest adsorption time at 15, 25 and 5 min, respectively. An ANOVA statistical analysis was performed; the results determined that the amount of NPMs (magnetite) used in each treatment exerts an influence on the percentage of As adsorption achieved in the experiment. It is concluded that the best result of the application of NPMs in the As adsorption in contaminated water was present in Treatment 1, where 0.5 ml/L of ferrofluid was used and an adsorption percentage of 36% was achieved, with a contact time of 15 min. It is recommended to analyze the variables that interfered in this research to improve the adsorption percentage of the synthesized iron NPMs.