Open Access

ARTICLE

Adsorption behavior and mechanism of heavy metal ions from acid mine drainage using two-dimensional MoS₂ nanosheets

K. Wang^a,b,*, G. L. Lian^c, Y. F. Qiao^d

a Engineering Training Center, Shanxi Institute of Technology, Yangquan, 045000, China
b School of Mines, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou, 221116, China
c Zhongmei Huajin Group Jincheng Energy Co., Ltd. Jincheng, 048000, China
d Department of Electrical and Control Engineering, Shanxi Institute of Technology, Yangquan, 045000, China

* Corresponding Author:

Chalcogenide Letters 2025, 22(10), 889-904. https://doi.org/10.15251/CL.2025.2210.889

Received 21 May 2025; Accepted 10 October 2025;

Abstract

The remediation of acid mine drainage (AMD), characterized by its high concentrations of toxic metal ions and low pH, presents a significant environmental challenge. In this study, exfoliated two-dimensional MoS_₂ nanosheets were prepared using a liquid-phase ultrasonication method and evaluated for their efficiency in removing Cd^²⁺, Cu^²⁺, and Pb^²⁺ from aqueous solutions. Detailed structural and morphological analyses confirmed that the exfoliation process significantly enhanced surface area, pore volume, and exposure of reactive sulfur sites. Through isotherm and kinetic modeling analyses, the adsorption behavior was found to align with the Langmuir model and pseudo-second-order kinetic equation, which implies that monolayer chemisorption serves as the primary adsorption mechanism. Spectroscopic characterizations revealed the formation of stable metal–sulfur complexes, highlighting the pivotal role of sulfur functional groups in binding metal ions. The developed MoS_₂ nanosheets demonstrated rapid adsorption kinetics and high removal efficiencies under optimal conditions, confirming their potential as a highly effective and sustainable material for heavy metal remediation in complex aqueous environments.

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Keywords

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