Synthesis and application of SeFe2O4@cell for the removal of polyethylene glycol from aqueous solution

Abstract

Water pollution by water-soluble polymers is a severe emerging water challenge that needs urgent attention. Therefore, selenium ferrite immobilized on functionalized cellulose (SeFe2O4@Cell) was prepared for the purification of polyethylene glycol (PEG) polluted water. Characterization of SeFe2O4@Cell revealed the BET (Brunauer-Emmett-Teller) surface area to be 13.50 m2 g-1 and a total pore volume of 0.076 cm3 g-1. The crystallite size using X-ray diffraction (XRD) was 17.32 nm while the scanning electron micrograph (SEM) revealed a heterogeneous surface with irregular shaped particles. The adsorption capacity of SeFe2O4@Cell towards PEG is 39.20 mg g-1 with a percentage removal of 98%, which obeys the Freundlich isotherms. The adsorption mechanism was found to be via electrostatic interaction. The process is pseudo-second-order compliant, spontaneous, and endothermic with ?Ho (1.0055 kJ mol-1) and ?So (0.0042 kJ mol-1K-1) values within range that describes the process. Conclusively, the study presents SeFe2O4@Cell as a promising material that can be potentially used to purify water contaminated with PEG.