Effectiveness of polyethylene glycol-coated silica on ions adsorption in industrial wastewater

Abstract

The effect of coating silica with polyethylene glycol on the adsorption of iron and phosphate ions in industrial wastewater was investigated. Variable factors were temperature and time of coating, PEG concentration, and PEG to silica ratio. Infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy were used to evaluate the chemical structure and morphology of PEG-coated silica. Optimum iron and phosphate ions removal efficiency was obtained using a coating temperature of 50°C, a coating time of 15 min, a PEG concentration of 20%, and a PEG to silica ratio of 1:3.