Environmentally Friendly Magnetic Nanocomposite for Adsorption and Recovery of Petroleum Contaminants from Water

Petroleum-derived pollutants represent a major environmental threat due to their toxicity, persistence, and continuous discharge into aquatic environments. Developing efficient, reusable, and environmentally benign adsorbents is therefore crucial for effective remediation strategies. In this study, an innovative magnetic hybrid material composed of nanocellulose and a zirconium–melamine metal–organic framework was synthesized for the adsorption of oil-based contaminants from water. The primary goal was to design a multifunctional adsorbent with strong affinity for petroleum pollutants, high structural stability, and rapid magnetic separability. Cellulose was extracted from date palm residues through alkaline delignification and bleaching, providing a sustainable and low-cost biopolymer precursor. Magnetic nanocellulose was then fabricated by incorporating cobalt ferrite nanoparticles, followed by the solvothermal synthesis of a zirconium–melamine framework that was uniformly deposited onto the magnetic nanocellulose, forming the final hybrid composite. Comprehensive characterization using infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, electron microscopy, elemental analysis, and magnetic measurements confirmed the successful formation of the composite, preservation of cellulose morphology, and effective interaction between the framework and the magnetic nanocellulose. The magnetic particles were homogeneously distributed throughout the hybrid, and the material exhibited the expected crystallinity and magnetic response. Adsorption studies revealed the strong capability of the synthesized hybrid to remove petroleum contaminants from aqueous media. The material showed high removal performance and an appreciable adsorption capacity for oil pollutants under optimized conditions. Kinetic analysis indicated that the adsorption behavior followed an appropriate kinetic model, while isotherm evaluation demonstrated that the most suitable isotherm model accurately described the adsorption mechanism. The hybrid also performed effectively in real water samples, highlighting its practical applicability. Thermal and magnetic analyses confirmed the stability of the material and its efficient recoverability using an external magnetic field, enabling repeated use without notable loss of efficiency. Overall, the magnetic nanocellulose-supported zirconium–melamine framework represents a meaningful advancement in sustainable adsorbent technology. The integration of a natural biopolymer support, a functional metal–organic framework, and magnetic separability underscores the novelty and significance of this work, offering an environmentally friendly and effective solution for the removal of petroleum-based pollutants in environmental and industrial applications.

کلیدواژه ها:

Magnetic nanocellulose ، Cobalt Ferrite ، zirconium–melamine ، metal–organic framework ، organic pollutants