Effective and Reusable 3d Cu X S Nanocluster Structured Magnetic Cleaner of Mercury from Wastewater

Abstract

The elimination of mercury from polluted water using an effective, cost-economic, and sustainable method was investigated in this work. A modulated multilayer magnetic Hg 2+ cleaner was prepared with a self-assembly engineering that permitting the robust anchoring of 3D Cu x S nanocluster onto a dopamine (PDA) covered positively strengthened Fe 3 O 4 surface. The developed PAD@Fe 3 O 4 supported copper sulfide composite (Cu x S/PAD@Fe 3 O 4 ) presented an unparalleled Hg 2+ uptake performance with adsorption capacity of 1394.61 mg/g (without saturation), and extraordinary selectivity with distribution coefficient value K d of 17419.2 mL/g compared to coexistence Mg 2+ , Ca 2+ , and Zn 2+ with K d value of 0.008, 0.010, and 0.0074 mL/g, respectively. A complexation reaction during Hg 2+ affinity was taken place on Cu x S/PAD@Fe 3 O 4 surface, and almost no components losses occurring during the adsorption. Furthermore, the as-prepared Cu x S/PAD@Fe 3 O 4 adsorbent can be easily magnetic recovery and recycled with hydrochloric acid elution. The purification of 50 L Hg 2+ containing wastewater, initial concentration of 20 μ g/L can be achieved with Cu x S/PAD@Fe 3 O 4 dosage of 0.1 g and treatment cost of 0.077 US $. The Cu x S/PAD@Fe 3 O 4 magnetic cleaner can be fabricated cheaply and holds promise for scale-up applications.

Keywords: mercury separator, 3D CuxS nanocluster, effective and reusable, magnetic recycle, cost-economic