Magnetically separable Prussian blue analogue Mn₃[Co(CN)₆]₂·nH₂O porous nanocubes as excellent absorbents for heavy metal ions

Nanoscale. 2011 Oct 5;3(10):4270-4. doi: 10.1039/c1nr10506j. Epub 2011 Aug 24.

Abstract

The application of Prussian blue analogue (PBA) Mn(3)[Co(CN)(6)](2)·nH(2)O porous nanocubes as absorbents for heavy metal ions has been demonstrated. The result indicates that Mn(3)[Co(CN)(6)](2)·nH(2)O porous nanocubes with average diameter of 240 nm possess excellent adsorption efficiency for Pb(2+) ions (94.21% at initial Pb(2+) concentration of 10 mg L(-1)). Moreover, Mn(3)[Co(CN)(6)](2)·nH(2)O porous nanocubes can also show high adsorption efficiency on heavy metal ions even in a strong acidic solution due to its chemical stability. Notably, an external magnet could be used to accelerate the separation of Mn(3)[Co(CN)(6)](2)·nH(2)O from the treated solution. It is suggested that the high adsorption efficiency may derive from the large surface area, M(3)(II)[M(III)(CN)(6)](2)·nH(2)O porous framework structure and affinity between polarizable π-electron clouds of the cyanide bridges and heavy metals ions.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adsorption
  • Cobalt / chemistry
  • Cyanides / chemistry*
  • Ferrocyanides / chemistry*
  • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
  • Magnetics*
  • Manganese / chemistry
  • Metals, Heavy / chemistry*
  • Nanostructures / chemistry*
  • Porosity

Substances

  • Cyanides
  • Ferrocyanides
  • Metals, Heavy
  • Cobalt
  • Manganese
  • ferric ferrocyanide