Synthesis and Characterization of Agar Coated Magnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles Prepared from Sand as Natural Iron Source for Removal of Ni ion from Aqueous Solution

Nickel is a hazardous metal that cause cancer and many other diseases. Agar coated magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles was investigated for the elimination of nickel from waste water. The magnetic nanoparticles were formed using a co-precipitation method from natural iron source. The nanoparticles have been described by a study of FT-IR, SEM, XRD and EDX. The FTIR outcomes confirmed that the iron oxide was successfully coated with agar while SEM results also indicated the coating of agar on iron oxide nanoparticles. The XRD pattern showed that bare magnetic particles were crystalline had sharp edges and spinal cube shape while the agar coated magnetic particles showed low crystallinity due to amorphous surface of agar. The EDX results revealed that about 76% iron is present in bare magnetic particles that decreased in agar coated nanoparticles, as prepared agar coated magnetic particles, the removal efficiency of Ni at optimum conditions was 89%.