Preparation of nanocrystalline Fe 3-x LaxO4 ferrite and their adsorption capability for Congo red.

This investigation was to increase the adsorption capacity of magnetite for Congo red (CR) by adulterating a small quantity of La(3+) ions into it. The adsorption capability of nanocrystalline Fe(3-x)La(x)O(4) (x=0, 0.01, 0.05, 0.10) ferrite to remove CR from aqueous solution was evaluated carefully. Compared with undoped magnetite, the adsorption values were increased from 37.4 to 79.1 mg g(-1). The experimental results prove that it is effectual to increase the adsorption capacity of magnetite by doped La(3+) ions. Among the La(3+)-doped magnetite, Fe(2.95)La(0.05)O(4) nanoparticles exhibit the highest saturation magnetization and the maximum adsorption capability. The desorption ability of La(3+)-doped magnetite nanoparticles loaded by CR can reach 92% after the treatment of acetone. Furthermore, the Fe(3-x)La(x)O(4) nanoparticles exhibited a clearly ferromagnetic behavior under applied magnetic field, which allowed their high-efficient magnetic separation from wastewater. It is found that high magnetism facilitates to improve their adsorption capacity for the similar products.