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Abstract The presence of heavy metals in water-based solutions, such as Pb2+ and Cd2+ ions, can have harmful effects on human health at even minute concentrations. For this reason, protecting aquatic environments, humans, and biodiversity requires instant action to remove these heavy metals from the water supply. In this study graphene/copper ferrite (GCF) nanocomposite was synthesized using hydrothermal technique, GCF was then used to remove Pb2+ and Cd2+ ions from aqueous solutions. characterization of GCF was done using Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The morphology, elemental analysis, magnetic properties, surface charge and surface area of GCF were examined by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM), selected area electron diffraction (SAED), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM), zeta potential measurements and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface analysis. Results showed that the average size of copper ferrite nanoparticles was 15 nm. GCF had a greater specific surface area of 644 m2/g compared with graphene oxide (GO) and copper ferrite (CF), and saturation magnetization (Ms) of 35.75 emu/g. Adsorption studies of Pb2+ and Cd2+ ions over GCF elucidated maximal capacities of (312.50±15.62) mg/g and (270.27±13.51) mg/g, respectively, utilizing Langmuir models. Batch kinetics investigations showed that a pseudo-second-order equation adequately characterized the adsorption of Pb2+ and Cd2+ ions onto GCF. The adsorption equilibrium data were well-fitted with Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm model for the Pb2+ and Cd2+ ions. GCF also demonstrated strong antibacterial activity against gram-negative (E. coli, P. aeruginosa) and gram-positive (S. aureus, S. pyrogenous) bacteria. GCF nanocomposite has multifunctional applications as a heavy metal adsorbent and an antibacterial agent. |