To improve the adsorption capacity, reduce the disposal cost, and
enhance the separation efficiency of common activated carbon as an
adsorbent in wastewater treatment, a novel thiol-modified magnetic
activated carbon adsorbent of NiFe
2
O
4
-PAC-SH
was successfully synthesized with a facile and safe hydrothermal method
without any toxic and harmful reaction media. The as-prepared NiFe
2
O
4
-PAC-SH can effectively remove mercury(II) ions
from aqueous solution. The maximal adsorption capacities from the
experiment and Langmuir fitting achieve 298.8 and 366.3 mg/g at pH
7, respectively, exceeding most of adsorptive materials. The as-prepared
NiFe
2
O
4
-PAC-SH has an outstanding regeneration
performance, remarkable hydrothermal stability, and efficient separation
efficiency. The data of kinetics, isotherms, and thermodynamics show
that the adsorption of mercury(II) ions is spontaneous and exothermic.
Ion exchange and electrostatic attraction are the main adsorption
factors. The experimental results exhibit that the NiFe
2
O
4
-PAC-SH can be a prominent substitute for conventional
activated carbon as an adsorbent.