Batch adsorption and desorption studies on the removal of lead (II) from aqueous solution using nanochitosan/sodium alginate/microcrystalline cellulose beads

Abstract

The feasibility of adsorption and desorption behavior of nanochitosan(NCS)/sodium alginate(SA)/microcrystalline cellulose (MC) bead prepared in 2:8:1 ratio for Pb(II) removal has been investigated through batch studies. The proof of adsorption of Pb(II) ions onto NCS/SA/MC beads was identified from FT-IR and EDX-SEM Studies. Studies of the effect of pH, adsorbent dose, metal ion concentration and temperature reveals that the optimum conditions for adsorption was found to be pH:6; adsorbent dose:4g; initial metal concentration: 62.5mg/L and temperature:50°C. Various equilibrium adsorption isotherm models namely Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin and D-R applied for the analysis of isotherm data indicate that the Freundlich adsorption isotherm model was found to be followed. On the basis of kinetic studies, specific rate constants involved in the processes were calculated and the observed result shows that the pseudo second order kinetics was found to be a better fit. The desorption studies reveals that the recovery of Pb(II) from NCS/SA/MC bead was found to be effective by using 0.1M HCl solution. From the results it was evident that the NCS/SA/MC bead showed better Pb(II) uptake performance and regeneration for further use and hence it was found to be an efficient biosorbent for treating industrial effluent.

Keywords: Adsorption; Cellulose; Nanochitosan; Sodium alginate.