Claudia-Maria Simonescu

Magnetite-Based Materials for Efficient Dual Removal of Heavy Metals and Pharmaceuticals from Wastewater

New porous core-shell magnetite-based adsorbents by functionalization of magnetite with chitosan and silica will be developed. Silica surface functionalization with amino groups and coating with metallic oxide semiconductors (TiO2 and Ag2O) will be performed to obtain composites with porous surface, high specific surface area and augmented active reaction sites. Green synthesis as microwave, ultrasounds-assisted, and photo-induced methods will be used for preparing core-shell materials to improve their adsorption and photocatalytic properties, and to reduce the environmental impact of the synthesis procedures. The new materials prepared will be used for remediation of heavy metals (Pb(II) and Cd(II)) and pharmaceuticals (tetracycline, amoxicillin, and diclofenac) from single, multiple and mixed-solutions through adsorption and photodegradation. Valuable insights regarding photocatalytic and adsorption properties, mechanisms involved, the photocatalytic degradation products, reusability and assessment of technological viability of processes from lab-scale to pilot scale will be provided.