TiO2/PKSAC functionalized with Fe3O4 for efficient concurrent removal of heavy metal ions from water

An effective material to assist in the elimination of heavy metal contaminants in the water system is necessary, as they persist for a long period in the environment. A novel multifarious TiO2/PKSAC/Fe3O4 composite with combined properties namely adsorption, photocatalytic and magnetic was successfully synthesized and applied for the simultaneous removal of mixed heavy metals, Pb(II), Cu(II), and Ni(II) under various conditions. Characterizations confirmed the fabrication of TiO2/PKSAC/Fe3O4 composite. An optimal adsorbent dosage of 0.9 g/L allowed >80% removal efficiency in 10 ppm of mixed metal ions solution. Among all three catalyst ratios, the equivalent mass ratio of 1:1:1 (TiO2/PKSAC/Fe3O4) demonstrated the best performance (>72%) in removing Pb (II), Cu(II), and Ni(II) ions, even after the addition of coexisting ions (Ca2+, Na+, Cl-, Br-) during the treatment. A recycling study confirmed the materials' regenerative stability. The fabricated TiO2/PKSAC/Fe3O4 composite can be applied as an effective material for heavy metals removal in wastewater.