Insights into the Glyphosate Adsorption Behavior and Mechanism by a MnFe2O4@Cellulose-Activated Carbon Magnetic Hybrid

To enhance the removal of the negatively charged organophosphorus pesticide (OPP) glyphosate (GLY), we prepared a positively charged MnFe2O4@cellulose activated carbon (CAC) hybrid by immobilizing MnFe2O4 nanoparticles on the CAC surface via a simple one-pot solvothermal method, scanning electron microscopy, BET, transmission electron microscopy, IR, Raman, X-ray diffraction, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis which proved the successful synthesis of MnFe2O4 with a particle size of 100–300 nm. The particles were distributed on the surface of CAC to form the MnFe2O4@CAC hybrid. MnFe2O4@CAC exhibited a positive charge at pH below 6 and had good magnetic properties and dispersion stability. The maximum GLY adsorption capacity of MnFe2O4@CAC (167.2 mg/g) was much higher than that of CAC (61.44 mg/g) and MnFe2O4 nanoparticles (93.48 mg/g). The adsorption process was dominated by chemisorption, and the formation of new chemical bonds between GLY and MnFe2O4 was confirmed by simulations. The newly for...