Removal of lead(II) from aqueous solution with amino-functionalized nanoscale zero-valent iron

An effective adsorbent for removal of Pb(II) in aqueous solution was synthesized by reaction of nanoscale zero-valent iron (NZVI) and 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APS). The material was characterized using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), infrared spectroscopy (IR) and a thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA). The amino-coated NZVI rapidly removed Pb(II) from aqueous solution and was easily separated by an external magnetic field. The Freundlich equation was used for investigating the adsorption process of APS-NZVI. Compared to untreated NZVI, the APS-coated NZVI exhibited stronger adsorption affinity and better adsorption performance. Therefore, APS-NZVI may be a suitable material for heavy metal remediation and has potential industrial applications.