Data on the removal of metals (Cr(3+), Cr(6+), Cd(2+), Cu(2+), Ni(2+), Zn(2+)) from aqueous solution by adsorption using magnetite particles from electrochemical synthesis

Magnetic materials are promising adsorbents for removing heavy metals from polluted wastewaters. Magnetite particles were prepared by electrolytic synthesis (average crystallite size 37.9±1.2 [Formula: see text] , surface area = 17.2 [Formula: see text] , isoelectric point = 6.3, magnetic saturation = 62 emu g(−1)) and used as adsorbent of heavy metals in aqueous solutions. The adsorption capacity of the magnetite was highly dependent on pH value, for Cd(+2), Zn(+2), Ni(+2) and Cu(+2) the removal performance was higher that 80% at pH = 8. For Cr+6, the acid pH showed removal percentage higher that 90%. The adsorbent was separated from the system, reactivated and reused in subsequent tests using batch adsorption. It was found that removal efficiencies were higher than 70% even during a third cycle of adsorption. Finally, the kinetic behavior of the adsorption of each adsorbate was described by a first-order. The range of values of q(e)(mg/g) and k (min(−1)) were 1.3166–1.6367 and 0.0377 to 0.0826 respectively.