Development and Characterization of Magnetic Biocomposite Hydrogels for Cu²⁺ Ion Remediation

Abstract

Heavy metal contamination, especially copper (Cu²⁺) pollution in industrial wastewater, has serious environmental and health implications and requires efficient and sustainable remediation strategies. The present study involves the development and characterization of magnetic biocomposite hydrogels for Cu²⁺ ion remediation through the incorporation of Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles to facilitate fast magnetic separation. The hydrogel was synthesized and characterized using FTIR, SEM, XRD, and VSM analyses to confirm the incorporation of functional groups and superparamagnetic properties. The removal capacity of Cu²⁺ ions were significantly high based on the adsorption experiments, indicating pseudo-second order kinetics, thus chemisorption as a dominant mechanism. According to statistical analysis, there was significant correlation between the concentration of Cu²⁺ and efficiency of adsorption. These results suggest that the developed hydrogel can be a cost-effective and environmentally friendly alternative to conventional remediation methods; however, further studies are warranted to optimize long-term stability and for large-scale applications.