LAUSR

The aim of this study was to synthesize Fe3O4 nanoparticles and gluten/pectin/Fe3O4 composite hydrogel. This nano-hydrogel was then used to reduce sediment contamination in Lake Urmia (Iran). For this purpose, magnetic nanoparticles were chemically synthesized. Two types of composite Hydrogels including gluten/Fe3O4 and gluten/pectin/Fe3O4 composites were prepared by adding Fe3O4 nanoparticles and pectin to wheat gluten. The properties of Hydrogels were studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier-transform infrared and X-ray diffraction methods. SEM results showed that Fe3O4 particles were seed shape (30–60 nm). The results confirmed the physical interactions between magnetic nanoparticles, pectin and gluten. Subsequently, the prepared Hydrogels were used to reduce the pollution of Lake Urmia sediments. Central composite design was used to investigate the effect of interaction time and interaction temperature of hydrogel with sediment and the type of hydrogel. Qualitative characteristics of the sediments, including heavy metal concentrations (arsenic, barium, cadmium, lead, mercury and chromium), biochemical oxygen demand, and chemical oxygen demand COD, and organic compounds were investigated before and after treatment of sediments with hydrogel. The effect of hydrogel on enhancing sediment quality was investigated. The results showed that in the optimum condition removal efficiency of total heavy metals was 62% and removal efficiency of total organic compounds was 42%. The results also showed that gluten/pectin/Fe3O4 hydrogel had better performance in reducing environmental pollutants of sediment than wheat gluten/Fe3O4 hydrogel.