Nitrobenzene adsorption from aqueous solution onto polythiophene-modified magnetite nanoparticles

Highlights: • Polythiophene modified magnetic nanoparticles were synthesized. • The core/shell nanoparticles were characterized and used as nitrobenzene adsorbent. • Kinetics and equilibrium of the adsorption were modeled. • Optimum adsorption condition was well defined. Nitrobenzene (NB) is among the priority pollutant mainly in oil refinery wastewaters. To introduce a potential adsorbent for the removal of NB, herein a new type of superparamagnetic nano-sorbent so-called polythiophene/Fe₃O₄ mixed matrix nanoparticles (Fe₃O₄/PTh) was synthesized and systematically characterized. The synthesized adsorbent was characterized by SEM, FTIR, PSA, TGA, BET, and XRD. The nanoparticles have been used as a unique sorbent for the extraction and enrichment of nitrobenzene. The absorption kinetic experiments revealed that the adsorption capacity is 66.72 mg g⁻¹ which is far higher compared to most of the other adsorbents reported for NB adsorption. According to the kinetic study, the adsorbent was able to extract low and high concentrations of nitrobenzene within 10–80 min the reusability of the adsorbent showed that the adsorbent can be used for several adsorption/desorption cycles with a slight loss in its adsorption capability. This finding could be quite encouraging from the real industrial wastewater treatment or nitrobenzene enrichment/purification points of view.