Fabrication of filter paper with green synthesized iron nanoparticles for heavy metals contaminated wastewater treatment

Abstract Wastewater containing heavy metals poses severe risks to human health. Traditional methods to synthesis iron nanoparticles (Fe NPs) for wastewater treatment are often costly and labor intensive, limiting their widespread use. This study explore the use of green synthesized Fe NPs by green tea extract and their fabrication onto filter paper for efficient heavy metal remediation. The Fe NPs were characterized through UV–Visible (UV–Vis) spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). UV–Vis spectroscopy revealed an absorbance peak of Fe NPs at 270 nm, while FT-IR analysis indicated that carboxylic acid and phenol were associated with Fe NPs as a functional group. SEM analysis confirmed that the Fe NPs were spherical in shape. The fabricated Fe NP-coated filter paper was evaluated for its ability to remediate wastewater containing heavy metals. The results demonstrated significant removal efficiencies for cadmium (Cd) 90.4%, copper (Cu) 92.3%, lead (Pb) 93.5%, and nickel (Ni) 85.6%. These findings highlight the potential of green-synthesized Fe NPs as a cost-effective and sustainable solution for wastewater treatment, addressing the pressing need for environmentally friendly remediation technologies.