Separation of cadmium and chromium heavy metals from industrial wastewater by using Ni-Zn nanoferrites

The potentials of NixZn1-xFe2O4 (x = 0.0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8 and 1.0) nanoadsorbents were investigated for removal of Cd and Cr from contaminated water from an electroplating industry in Himachal Pradesh, India. Optimal values were recorded under batch adsorption experiments performed to remove dissolved heavy metal ions from industrial wastewater. The specific surface area (SSA) of nanoadsorbents perceived to vary in a range 35.75-45.29 cm2/g and was calculated from the XRD data. The influence of two operating parameters, contact time and dopant (Ni) concentration was also investigated at pH ~7 with optimum dosage. Kinetic studies were conducted within a time range of 2-10 min with rapid adsorption of cadmium and chromium ions onto Ni0.2Zn0.8Fe2O4 nanoadsorbents. Pseudo-second-order kinetic model was observed to be well fitted with the adsorption data that confirmed the only existence of chemisorption throughout the adsorption process. The maximum adsorption efficiency values observed for Cd and Cr were 51.4 mg/g and 40.12 mg/g, respectively for different compositions of prepared series of nanoadsorbents. The removal percentage of Cd and Cr was found to vary in a range of 47.7%-95.25% and 21%-50% respectively. The prepared series of nanoferrite found to be suitable enough for adsorption of both heavy metal ions.