Biosynthesis of magnetite nanoparticles utilizing Azadirachta indica leaves for removal of Cadmium

Abstract

Cadmium toxicity occurs when the body is exposed to cadmium via industrial emissions, infected food, cigarette smoke, contaminated water etc. This affects the kidney, bones, lungs, liver etc. In this study, Magnetite nanoparticles were biosynthesized utilizing Azadirachta indica leaves , oven dried at 1200⁰C for 1 hr and calcined for 4 hr at 500⁰C in a murfle furnace. The synthesized material was characterized using Energy-Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDX), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and Scanning Electron Microscopy(SEM) for the elemental composition, functional group and morphology. Adsorption studies were carried out and the percentage of degradation of cadmium were investigated under various conditions such as pH, contact time, temperature and initial concentration of the Azadirachta indica mediated iron oxide nanoparticle. The result showed that the percentage of Cadmium removal was 53.83% at 3.13mg/L, at contact time of 40min with highest removal percentage of 53.14%, at temperature of 65⁰C, 76.19% optimum removal of Cadmium was recorded and at pH 7, the optimum cadmium removal was 59.65%. The equilibrium data was best represented by Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm model and the Pseudo-first order kinetic model better explained the kinetic data for the Cadmium ion. The findings showed that Azadirachta indica leaf extract have proven to be an effective capping agent and a sustainable bio material for cadmium removal in polluted water.