Heavy metals [chromium (VI) and lead (II)] removal from water using mesoporous magnetite (Fe3O4) nanospheres

Magnetite nanospheres with hollow interiors were synthesized using a simple, one-pot, and template free solvothermal method with ferric chloride as the iron precursor. The composition, surface properties and morphology were studied using X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), surface area analysis, point of zero charge (pHpzc), scanning electron microscopy...