Application of magnetic particles modified with amino groups to adsorb copper ions in aqueous solution

A magnetic adsorbent can be easily recovered from treated water by magnetic force, without requiring further downstream treatment. In this research, amine-functionalized silica magnetite has been synthesized using N-[3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl]-ethylenediamine (TPED) as a surface modification agent. The synthesized magnetic amine adsorbents were used to adsorb copper ions in an aqueous solution in a batch system, and the maximum adsorption was found to occur at pH 5.5 +/- 0.1. The adsorption equilibrium data fitted the Langmuir isotherm equation reasonably well, with a maximum adsorption capacity of 10.41 mg/g. A pseudo second-order model could best describe the adsorption kinetics, and the derived activation energy was 26.92 kJ/mol. The optimum condition to desorb Cu2+ from NH2/SiO2/Fe3O4 was provided by a solution with 0.1 mol/L HNO3.