Mariam Rabaa - Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Beirut Arab University, Beirut, Lebanon
Amani Aridi - Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Beirut Arab University, Beirut, Lebanon
Ghassan Younes - Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Beirut Arab University, Beirut, Lebanon
Ramadan Awad - Physics Department, Faculty of Science, Beirut Arab University, Beirut, Lebanon

Heavy metal ions, such as As (III) and Pb (II), are harmful even at trace levels and have caused series health effects on living beings. Therefore, removing these heavy metal ions from the aqueous environment is highly desirable. In this study, Mg۰.۳۳Ni۰.۳۳Co۰.۳۳SmxFe۲-xO۴ nanoparticles, where x = ۰.۰۰, ۰.۰۱, ۰.۰۲, ۰.۰۴ and ۰.۰۸, were synthesized by the co-precipitation method and characterized using X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) and UV-Vis spectroscopy techniques in order to study the structural and optical properties. The prepared nanoparticles were applied as adsorbents for the removal of As (III) and Pb (II) from wastewater. Among the prepared samples, Mg۰.۳۳Ni۰.۳۳Co۰.۳۳SmxFe۲-xO۴ nanoparticles with x = ۰.۰۴ and ۰.۰۸ exhibited improved adsorption performance where As (III) was totally removed after ۹۰ min. The experimental adsorption data of As (III) was well fitted with a second-order kinetics model and Langmuir isotherm. Furthermore, the highest removal % of Pb (II) was revealed by Mg۰.۳۳Ni۰.۳۳Co۰.۳۳SmxFe۲-xO۴ nanoparticles with x = ۰.۰۱. Thus, doping Mg۰.۳۳Ni۰.۳۳Co۰.۳۳Fe۲O۴ with Sm improved the adsorption performance of nanoparticles for the removal of As (III) more than that of Pb (II).

Spinel ferrite nanoparticles, Heavy metals ions removal, As (III) and Pb (II), second-order kinetics, Langmuir adsorption isotherm