Simultaneous removal of Sb(iii) and Cd(ii) in water by adsorption onto a MnFe(2)O(4)–biochar nanocomposite

In this study, a jacobsite–biochar nanocomposite (MnFe(2)O(4)–BC) was fabricated and used to simultaneously remove Sb(iii) and Cd(ii) from water via adsorption. The MnFe(2)O(4)–BC nanocomposite was prepared via a co-precipitation method and analyzed using various techniques. The results confirm the successful decoration of the biochar surface with MnFe(2)O(4) nanoparticles. The maximum Sb(iii) removal efficiency was found to be higher from bi-solute solutions containing Cd(ii) than from single-solute systems, suggesting that the presence of Cd(ii) enhances the removal of Sb(iii). The Langmuir isotherm model describes well Sb(iii) and Cd(ii) removal via adsorption onto the MnFe(2)O(4)–BC nanocomposite. The maximum adsorption capacities are 237.53 and 181.49 mg g(−1) for Sb(iii) and Cd(ii), respectively, in a bi-solute system. Thus, the prepared MnFe(2)O(4)–BC nanocomposite is demonstrated to be a potential adsorbent for simultaneously removing Sb(iii) and Cd(ii) ions from aqueous solutions.