Adsorption of microcystin-LR from water with iron oxide nanoparticles

Adsorption of microcystin-LR (MC-LR) from water using iron oxide (α-Fe₂O₃) nanoparticles was investigated in this study. Adsorption of MC-LR adsorption was well-described by a pseudo second order kinetics model and Freundlich and Langmuir isotherm equations at 15 to 35°C. Thermodynamic analysis showed that the Gibbs free energy was negative, whereas standard enthalpy and entropy changes were positive at this temperature range. These findings suggest that the adsorption of MC-LR on iron oxide nanoparticles was spontaneous and endothermic. The effects of initial pH, inorganic cations, and competing compounds with carboxyl groups on absorption of MC-LR were also evaluated. Typically, adsorption efficiency decreased with increasing pH from 2 to 11. Sodium ions did not appear to significantly affect MC-LR adsorption, whereas calcium ions slightly enhanced the MC-LR adsorption capacity of the iron oxide nanoparticles. Moreover, the inhibiting effect of competing organic compounds was increased with increasing numbers of carboxyl groups, as follows: citric acid (3) > oxalic acid (2) > benzoic acid (1).