ISSN print edition: 0366-6352 ISSN electronic edition: 1336-9075 Registr. No.: MK SR 9/7 Published monthly

Synthesis, characterization and performance evaluation of Fe₃O₄/CSH@MCC as an adsorbent for heavy metals

Chengzhang Ma, Xin Tao, Yang Liu, Bitao Luo, and Qi Long

School of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Wuhan University of Bioengineering, Wuhan, P.R. China

E-mail: 1308413914@qq.com

Received: 12 January 2026  Accepted: 26 May 2026

Abstract:

To develop a high-performance material for heavy metal remediation, calcium silicate hydrate (CSH) was synthesized using calcium chloride and sodium metasilicate as precursors via a constant-temperature solid-phase method. A novel ternary adsorbent, Fe₃O₄/CSH@MCC, was successfully constructed by coating Fe₃O₄-loaded CSH with microcrystalline cellulose (MCC). The surface characteristics, structural, morphological, and thermal stability were characterized using SEM, FTIR, XRD, BET, TGA and XPS analyses. The adsorption behavior was further elucidated through kinetic, thermodynamic, and isotherm modeling. The results indicated that under optimal conditions (pH = 5), the maximum adsorption capacities for Ni²⁺, Cu²⁺, Pb²⁺, and Ag⁺ reached 792.52 mg/g, 683.45 mg/g, 750.08 mg/g, and 351.05 mg/g, respectively. Rapid adsorption equilibrium was achieved within 60 min, with corresponding removal efficiencies of 99.53%, 86.32%, 97.19%, and 48.10%. Thermodynamic and kinetic analyses demonstrated that the adsorption process follows the Langmuir isotherm model, indicating a monolayer adsorption mechanism. The pseudo-second-order kinetic model suggested that chemisorption is the dominant adsorption mechanism. These findings underscore the potential of the Fe₃O₄/CSH@MCC composite as an efficient material for wastewater treatment, offering a promising solution for the environmental remediation of heavy metal pollutants.

Keywords: Calcium silicate hydrate; Fe3O4; Heavy metals; Adsorption; Magnetic composite

Full paper is available at www.springerlink.com.

DOI: 10.1007/s11696-026-05122-8

Chemical Papers 80 (10) 12145–12159 (2026)