STUDY ON AMMONIUM ADSORPTION IN AQUEOUS SOLUTION USING Fe3O4/ZnO

Abstract

In this study, composite materials between Fe₃O₄ and ZnO (Fe₃O₄/ZnO) were synthesized by simple chemical method to remove ammonium in aqueous solution. The characteristics of Fe₃O₄/ZnO were evaluated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectra (FTIR). The adsorption process of Fe₃O₄/ZnO for ammonium was evaluated through batch experiments to examine various parameters, including solution pH, material content, contact time and initial ammonium concentration. The results show that ammonium could be removed well by using Fe₃O₄/ZnO due to electrostatic attraction and functional groups on the surface of composite materials. The ammonium adsorption capacities of Fe₃O₄/ZnO reached 39.37 mg/g, at an initial ammonium concentration of 20 mg/L, pH = 7, material content of 1 g/L and contact time of 20 min. Initial testing using Fe₃O₄/ZnO material to treat ammonium in domestic wastewater showed quite satisfactory treatment efficiency. The Fe₃O₄/ZnO composite material promises to be a material capable of treating ammonium in water quite well.