Effective and Reusable 3d Cu X S Nanocluster Structured Magnetic Cleaner of Mercury from Wastewater

The elimination of mercury from polluted water using an effective, cost-economic, and sustainable method was investigated in this work. A modulated multilayer magnetic Hg2+ cleaner was prepared with a self-assembly engineering that permitting the robust anchoring of CuxS nanocluster onto a dopamine (PDA) covered positively strengthened Fe3O4 surface. The developed PAD@Fe3O4 supported copper sulfide composite (CuxS/PAD@Fe3O4) presented an unparalleled Hg2+ uptake performance with adsorption capacity of 1394.61 mg/g (without saturation) at Hg2+ concentration of 500 mg/L, and extraordinary selectivity with distribution coefficient value Kd of 17419.2 mL/g compared to coexistence Mg2+, Ca2+, and Zn2+ with Kd value of 0.008, 0.010, and 0.0074 mL/g, respectively. A complexation reaction during Hg2+ affinity was taken place on CuxS/PAD@Fe3O4 surface, and almost no components losses occurring during the adsorption. Furthermore, the as-prepared CuxS/PAD@Fe3O4 adsorbent can be easily magnetic recovery and recycled with hydrochloric acid elution. The purification of 50 L Hg2+ containing wastewater, initial concentration of 20 μg/L can be achieved with CuxS/PAD@Fe3O4 dosage of 0.1 g and treatment cost of 0.077 US $. The CuxS/PAD@Fe3O4 magnetic cleaner can be fabricated cheaply and holds promise for scale-up applications