Utilizing MoO3, MoO3 doped Y2O3 for heavy metals (Hg, Pb, Cu) removal from wastewater monitored by p-XRF and LIBS techniques

In this study the heavy metals (Cu2+, Pb2+, Hg+2) were removed from waste water using two types of sorbents, namely, MoO3 and MoO3 doped with 12 %Y2O3 were synthesized by solgel method. The as-prepared oxides were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning electron microscope (SEM), Transmission electron microscope (TEM), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). A combination of quantitative and qualitative analysis techqnieus, portable X-ray fluorescence (pXRF) and laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) were used to evaluate the removing efficency. Calibration curves were performed to elucidate the limit of detection (LOD) of the Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) technique for the removal process The LOD were 1.65, 2–21 and 0.98 ppm for Cu, Pb and Hg respectively. The results indicated that the Y2O3-doped α-MoO3 has a consistently greater removal efficiency compared to MoO3. The removal effecieny of Hg2+, Pb2+ and Cu2+ was 95 %, 33 % and 21 % respectively with MoO3 while it was 98 % 63 % 35 % for MoO3 doped Y2O3, The results proved also that MoO3 and MoO3 doped Y2O3 nanoparticles can be utilized as cost effective adsorbent material for heavy metal removal in wastewater. The study showed the potential of using Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) in environmental applications.