Preparation of chitosan/magnetite composite beads and their application for removal of Pb(II) and Ni(II) from aqueous solution

A simple and effective process has been proposed to prepare chitosan/magnetite nanocomposite beads with saturation magnetization value as high as uncoated Fe3O4 nanoparticles (ca. 54 emu/g). The reason was that the coating chitosan layer was so thin that it did not affect magnetic properties of these composite beads. Especially, chitosan on the surface of the magnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles is available for coordinating with heavy metal ions, making those ions removed with the assistance of external magnets. Maximum adsorption capacities for Pb(II) and Ni(II), occurred at pH 6 and under room temperature were as high as 63.33 and 52.55 mg/g respectively, according to Langmuir isotherm model. These results permitted to conclude that chitosan/magnetite nanocomposite beads could serve as a promising adsorbent not only for Pb(II) and Ni(II) (pH = 4–6) but also for other heavy metal ions in wastewater treatment technology.