Exploration of magnetic zeolite thin film derived from coal fly ash an efficient sorbent: Application to water treatment

Fly ash, produced during coal combustion for energy making, which is recognized as an industrial by-product, could lead to environmental health hazards. Subsequently, fly ash found that an exceptional adsorption performance for the removal of various toxic pollutants, the adsorption capacity of fly ash might be altered by introducing physical/chemical stimulation. Successfully converting fly ash into zeolites not only recovers their disposal difficulties but also transforms unwanted materials into merchandisable products for various industrial applications. Here we fabricated that, converting fly ash into zeolite and then modifying it with aminopropyl imidazole (ionic liquid), the imidazolium-based zeolite will be used as a template for loading Fe3O4 NPs. The formation of Fe3O4 NPs decorated zeolites is incorporated with polymeric materials [including polystyrene sulphonate (PSS), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and chitosan], producing to magnetic film (named Fe3O4 NPs@zeolite film). The fabricated magnetic film exhibits excellent functionality and durability for the sorption of chromium, selenium and organic dyes such as Congo red, RhB. These toxic contaminates were electrostatically bonded through adsorbent due to their protonation of below the pHzpc 7.0 with surface functional groups from imidazolium cationic moiety (R-N+), amino groups derived chitosan (-N, -NH and -NH2), and hydroxyl groups (Fe-OH), electrostatically bind with anionic selenium species are [(SeO32−, Se(IV)), and (SeO42− Se(VI)], chromium species HCrO4−, Cr2O72− and CrO42− the maximum removal performance were achieved in a wide pH range are highly suitable for practical application. [Display omitted] •Converting fly ash into zeolite and then modify it with loading of Fe3O4 NPs.•Fe3O4 NPs decorated zeolites producing to magnetic film (Fe3O4 NPs@zeolite film).•Magnetic film exhibits an excellent for sorption of heavy metals and organic dyes.•This magnetic films coincided well with Langmuir isotherm & second-order kinetics.•This film can able to create clean water from laundry rooms, kitchens and showers.