Adsorption of As(III) and As(V) by Fe/C composite nanoparticles synthesized via a one-pot hydrothermal approach without the addition of carbon sources

Arsenic remediation from contaminated water has become a serious issue worldwide. Carbon-encapsulated Fe nanoparticle composites (Fe/C CNPs) were created utilizing a one-pot hydrothermal process with ferrocene and no carbon sources. The Fe/C CNPs produced were characterized using a variety of techniques. As(III) and As(IV) (V) were modeled using a pseudo-second-order kinetic model. The Langmuir model described As(III) adsorption on Fe/C CNPs with an extreme adsorption ability of 5.85 mg g−1, indicating monolayer adsorption. On the other hand, (V) adsorption was well matched with the Freundlich model, with a high adsorption volume of 5.05 mg g−1, demonstrating multilayer adsorption onto the surface of Fe/C CNPs. These findings imply that the Fe/C CNPs generated can be utilized to remediate As-contaminated water. [Display omitted] •Synthesized Fe/C 27 CNPs can be used to treat As contaminated water.•The present study developed a simple one-pot synthesis technique for producing Fe/C composite nanoparticles.•The pseudo-second-order kinetic model perfectly adapted the adsorption kinetic data, 286indicating chemisorptions on the adsorbent surface.•Fe/C CNPs could be a good material for removing As from contaminated water.