Modified coprecipitated Copper Ferrite Nanoparticles as a Dual-Agent for Pb2+ and Cd2+ Ions Removal and Antibacterial Treatment in Wastewater

Utilizing a modified co-precipitation technique, this study presents the synthesis and comprehensive characterization of Copper Ferrite Nanoparticles (CFNPs). CFNPs, exhibiting an 85.027 m2/g surface area, 15 nm average particle size, and saturation magnetization (Ms) of 52.68 emu/g, were synthesized utilizing various characterization techniques, including Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM), selected area electron diffraction (SAED), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) analysis, and zeta potential measurement. Adsorption studies focusing on Pb2+ and Cd2+ ions elucidated maximal capacities of 210.58 mg/g and 149.99 mg/g, respectively, employing Langmuir models. Kinetic analyses supported the pseudo-first-order model, with equilibrium adsorption data aligning well with the Dubinin-Radushkevich isotherm model, highlighting CFNPs' high affinity for heavy metal ions. Furthermore, CFNPs exhibited potent antibacterial efficacy against gram-positive (S. aureus, S. pyrogenous) and gram-negative (E. coli, P. aeruginosa) bacteria, underscoring their multifunctional potential in water remediation and antibacterial applications. This comprehensive investigation offers promising avenues for the environmental and biomedical utilization of CFNPs.