Eliminación de arsénico de soluciones acuosas mediante nanopartículas de hierro sintetizadas con extracto de eucalipto

Abstract

In this study, the effectiveness of iron nanoparticles synthesized with eucalyptus extract for the elimination of arsenic (As) from aqueous solutions was investigated. The synthesis, based on the green synthesis methodology used eucalyptus extracts as reducing and stabilizing agents resulting in iron oxide nanoparticles. The synthesis was divided into two phases: the extraction of the aqueous extract and the obtaining of the nanoparticles, it was demonstrated that optimal conditions, including temperature, extract concentration and pH, guarantee the efficient production of nanoparticles with ideal characteristics. Characterization by FT-IR spectroscopy and SEM microscopy highlighted its stability and uniform morphology, indicating suitable properties for contaminant removal applications. As adsorption tests revealed high efficiency, consistently exceeding the 90 % removal threshold under various conditions, contact time analysis showed rapid initial removal reaching 99.26 %. In three hours, the optimal amount of nanoparticles was 0.5 g, and the optimal pH for removal was neutral to slightly acidic, the effect of temperature demonstrated an inverse relationship, and at higher initial concentrations of As greater removal efficiency was achieved. In conclusion, iron nanoparticles synthesized with eucalyptus extract present significant potential for the removal of As from aqueous solutions, supporting their viability as a promising method in the purification of arsenic contaminated water and underlining the importance of controlled conditions in the synthesis of nanoparticles for applications.