Heba H. El-Maghrabi

Magnetic graphene based nanocomposite for uranium scavenging

Magnetic graphene based ferberite nanocomposite was tailored by simple, green, low cost and industrial effective method. The microstructure and morphology of the designed nanomaterials were examined via XRD, Raman, FTIR, TEM, EDX and VSM. The prepared nanocomposites were introduced as a novel adsorbent for uranium ions scavenging from aqueous solution. Different operating conditions of time, pH, initial uranium concentration, adsorbent amount and temperature were investigated. The experimental data shows a promising adsorption capacity. In particular, a maximum value of 455mg/g was obtained within 60min at room temperature with adsorption efficiency of 90.5%. The kinetics and isotherms adsorption data were fitted with the pseudo-second order model and Langmuir equation, respectively. Finally, the designed nanocomposites were found to have a great degree of sustainability (above 5 times of profiteering) with a complete maintenance of their parental morphology and adsorption capacity.

Novel polyacrylamide-based solid scale inhibitor

Novel solid-state phosphorus-containing polymer was synthesized, characterized and investigated as anti-scaling agent for the removal of alkaline earth metals ions from water. An optimization protocol for the sorption process of the metal ions on the polymer surface was proposed and executed. The protocol involved parameters such as pH, contact time, polymer dose, and the initial concentration of the metal ion. The optimum pH was found to be around seven for all of the tested metal ions. The maximum sorption capacities of the prepared polymer were 667, 794, 769 and 709 (mg/g) for Mg, Ca, Sr and Ba ions, respectively. Evaluation of the sorption process from the isotherm, kinetic and thermodynamic points of view was also studied. The experimental evidence revealed that the sorption obeys Langmuir isotherm model and follows a pseudo-second order mechanism. Moreover, the sorption process is exothermic. Possibility of polymer reuse was also investigated.

Photocorrosion resistant Ag2CO3@Fe2O3/TiO2-NT nanocomposite for efficient visible light photocatalytic degradation activities

Ternary nanocomposite Ag2CO3@Fe2O3/TiO2-NT (AFT), compared with binary Fe2O3/TiO2-NT (FTNT) and TiO2 nanotube (TNT), showed remarkably enhanced performance for catalytic photodegradation of phenol compounds in the presence of solar irradiation. AFT nanocomposite performed high degradation efficiency (96.5%) and high degree of sustainability. The unique catalytic properties of the nanocomposite such as synergetic light absorption, efficient charge separation-transfer and resistance toward photocorrosion suggested three possible alternative mechanisms for transferring photogenerated electrons. Ag2CO3@Fe2O3/TiO2-NT nanocomposite may have a potential application for the industrial treatment of wastewater containing toxic organic contamination.

A facile synthesis for magnetic ferberite nanostructured material

Iron-tungsten oxide nanospinel have been prepared by two methods: microwave combustion method and Pechini method. The W-Fe bimetallic ferberite was successfully synthesized by microwave-assisted techniques. The resultant magnetic nanocomposites were characterized by thermal analysis, X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray, transmission electron microscopy, nitrogen adsorption, and magnetic properties measurement system. The prepared ferberite nanoparticles (50–65 nm) using microwave combustion method were pure monoclinic ferberite. The ferberite nanoparticles showed ferrimagnetic hysteresis loop with values of saturation magnetization and coercivity of 4.829 A.m2/Kg and 0.0312 T, successively.Graphical Abstract