Preparation and characterization of magnetic chelating resin based on chitosan for adsorption of Cu(II), Co(II), and Ni(II) ions

Cross-linked magnetic chitosan–diacetylmonoxime Schiff’s base resin (CSMO) was prepared for adsorption of metal ions. CSMO obtained was investigated by means of scanning electron microscope (SEM), FTIR, ¹H NMR, wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXRD), magnetic properties and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The adsorption properties of cross-linked magnetic CSMO resin toward Cu²⁺, Co²⁺ and Ni²⁺ ions were evaluated. Various factors affecting the uptake behavior such as contact time, temperature, pH and initial concentration of the metal ions were investigated. The kinetics was evaluated utilizing the pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-order. The equilibrium data were analyzed using the Langmuir, Freundlich, and Tempkin isotherm models. The adsorption kinetics followed the mechanism of the pseudo-second-order equation for all systems studied, evidencing chemical sorption as the rate-limiting step of adsorption mechanism and not involving a mass transfer in solution. The best interpretation for the equilibrium data was given by Langmuir isotherm, and the maximum adsorption capacities were 95 ± 4, 60 ± 1.5, and 47 ± 1.5 mg/g for Cu²⁺, Co²⁺ and Ni²⁺ ions, respectively. Cross-linked magnetic CSMO displayed higher adsorption capacity for Cu²⁺ in all pH ranges studied. The adsorption capacity of the metal ions decreased with increasing temperature. The metal ion-loaded cross-linked magnetic CSMO were regenerated with an efficiency of greater than 84% using 0.01–0.1 M ethylendiamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA).