Green Synthesis And Characterization Of Fe-Ti Mixed Nanoparticles For Enhanced Lead Removal From Aqueous Solutions

Abstract

Heavy metal contamination in water resources presents a significant environmental and public health challenge, with lead a particular concern due to its toxicity and persistence. This study reports the green synthesis of Fe-Ti mixed oxide nanoparticles (NPs) using dextrose as a green source and investigates their effectiveness in lead removal from aqueous solutions. The synthesized NPs were characterized using XRD, FTIR, XPS, SEM-EDS, and BET analysis, revealing an amorphous structure with a high surface area (292.89 m² g¹) and mesoporous characteristics. XPS analysis confirmed the presence of mixed Fe³⁺/Fe²⁺ valence states in a Ti⁴⁺-rich framework, creating diverse binding sites for lead adsorption. The material exhibited optimal lead removal at pH 5, with adsorption following pseudo-second-order kinetics (R² \u3e 0.99) and a Langmuir isotherm model (R² \u3e 0.98). Maximum adsorption capacity reached 25.10 mg g⁻¹ at 40°C, showing endothermic behavior. The low point of zero charge (0.22) and surface hydroxyl groups enabled efficient lead binding may be through multiple mechanisms. Dose optimization studies established 6 g L⁻¹ as the optimal adsorbent concentration. The synergistic combination of iron\u27s affinity for heavy metals and titanium\u27s structural stability, coupled with environmentally friendly synthesis, resulted in a promising material for sustainable water treatment applications. Keywords: Nanoparticles, lead, adsorption, green synthesis, dextrose, heavy metal pollutio