Synthesis and Application of FeCu Bimetallic Nanoparticles in Coal Mine Wastewater Treatment

Abstract

Wastewater treatment has become a global challenge with wastewater treatment cost fast increasing. Industrial processes such as downstream processes, wastewater treatment, and several fermentation processes depend largely on the use of flocculants. Synthetic flocculants, which are conventionally used in wastewater treatment, are hazardous to the environment and are carcinogenic to human health. Therefore, bioflocculants can be used as an alternative due to their biodegradable and environmentally friendly nature. However, low efficacy hinders their industrial application. This necessitates the need for a new technology to combat wastewater treatment challenges. Nanotechnology provides the platform to explore the possible solutions to these problems. The combination of two different metals results in the formation of bimetallic nanoparticles (BNPs). Due to better properties, bimetallic nanoparticles have attracted huge attention as compared to monometallic nanoparticles from both technological and scientific views. Iron copper bimetallic nanoparticles (FeCu BNPs) were successfully stabilized by bioflocculant and used in the coal mine wastewater treatment. Infrared spectrometric analysis showed the presence of carboxyl (COO−), hydroxyl (−OH), and amino (−NH2) functional groups. SEM images showed irregular and crystalline like morphology. Meanwhile, TEM analysis revealed chain like agglomerated nanoparticles. FeCu BNPs exhibited a wide pH stability range from 3, 7, and 11 with 99% flocculation activity at pH 7 and at lowest dosage of 0.2 mg/mL. After treating wastewater, the FeCu BNPs could remove pollutants such as phosphate, sulfate, calcium, chemical oxygen demand (COD), and biological oxygen demand (BOD) with phosphate having the highest removal efficacy of 99%.

Flow rate impact on the performance of immobilized nanoFeCu for sewage treatment and its reusability

“…On the other hand, Amen et al [ 17 ] proposed adsorption followed by reductive reaction mechanisms to describe the COD degradation in the presence of nZVI/Cu 0 . Recently, Dlamini et al [ 48 ] found that FeCu exhibited flocculation activity in treating coal mine wastewater which was rich in phosphate, calcium, sulphate, COD, and BOD. Thus, the removal of COD in this study could be due to the combined effect of adsorption, reductive reaction, and flocculation.…”

Embedded nanoFeCu for sewage treatment: Laboratory‐scale and pilot studies

“…Similar findings were also reported by Mahmoud et al, [ 20 ] where COD was reduced from 600 to 76 ppm, while BOD was reduced from 365 to 31 ppm when the raw wastewater from San Elhagr Al‐Sharqia, Egypt, was treated with nano‐zero valence iron (nZVI). Recently, Dlamini et al [ 21 ] reported that 92% of COD and 97% of BOD were removed from coal mine wastewater using FeCu bimetallic nanoparticles as a flocculant. Nevertheless, the mechanism of organic compound removal by bimetallic nanoparticles has not been reported.…”

Bioflocculation of pollutants in wastewater using flocculant derived from Providencia huaxiensis OR794369.1

“…Thereafter, two volumes of ethanol was added, and the mixture was allowed to precipitate at 4 °C for 12 h. Afterwards, the precipitate was vacuum-dried, and the crude product was re-dissolved in the sterilised distilled water to give a solution of 1%. In order to purify the bioflocculant, a mixture of chloroform and n-butyl alcohol (5:2 v/v) was pipetted into the bioflocculant solution in a ratio of 2:1 (v/v) and the mixture was left at room temperature for 12 h. The resultant precipitate was collected and vacuum-dried [ 30 ].…”