Removal of chromium(VI) from aqueous solutions using polypyrrole-based magnetic composites

PPy/Fe₃O₄/AgCl composites were prepared via in situ polymerization for the removal of highly toxic Cr(VI). The structure and morphology of the prepared composites were characterized by the XRD, SEM, TEM, and VSM examinations. Up to 100 % removal was found with 1000 mg/L Cr(VI) aqueous solution at pH 2.0. The process of Cr(VI) ions’ adsorption was easy to reach equilibrium at higher temperatures. Adsorption results showed that Cr(VI) removal efficiency by the composites decreased with an increase in pH. Adsorption kinetics was described by the pseudo-second-order rate model. Isotherm data fitted well to the Langmuir isotherm model. Desorption experiment showed that the regenerated adsorption of PPy/Fe₃O₄/AgCl can be reused successfully for three times successive adsorption–desorption cycles without appreciable loss of its original capacity.     

Removal of Cr(VI) from alkaline aqueous solutions using chemically modified magnetic chitosan resins

Chitosan was cross-linked using glutaraldehyde in the presence of magnetite. The resin obtained was chemically modified through the reaction with tetraethylenepentamine followed by glycidyl trimethylammonium chlorid to produce chitosan bearing amine (R1) and chitosan bearing both amine and quaternary ammonium chloride moieties (R2), respectively. The quaternary amine resin (R2) showed a higher affinity towards the uptake of Cr(VI) from alkaline medium, where an uptake value of 2.8 mmol/g was reported at pH 8 and 25 °C. The nature of interaction of R2 with chromate in alkaline medium was clarified. The resin Kinetics at different temperatures and thermodynamic parameters of the uptake process in alkaline medium were obtained. The uptake of Cr(VI) from different electrolyte solutions was studied. Regeneration curves for the desorption of Cr(VI) from R2 were studied. The adsorbed chromate anions was regenerated effectively (desorption ratio ~ 98%) using a mixture of 2 M NaCl and 0.5 M NaOH.     

Removal of chromium (VI) from aqueous solutions using poly(4‐vinyl pyridine) beads

Sorption of hexavalent chromium ions from aqueous solution by poly 4‐vinyl pyridine [Poly(4‐VP)] was studied. The batch method was applied for adsorption processes. The effects of initial ion concentration, time, pH and temperature on adsorption were investigated. A treatment time of 60 min was found to be sufficient to reach equilibrium. pH 3.0 was found as the optimum pH value for the process. The maximum adsorption performance was achieved at 86.7 mg g^?1 using 500 mg L^?1 Cr (VI) solutions. The process of adsorption of Cr (VI) was explained by Langmuir isotherm. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 101: 2865–2870, 2006     

Cr (VI) adsorption from aqueous solutions on grafted chitosan

Chitosan was grafted on the surface of a cotton gauze (20, 50, and 100 mg chitosan g⁻¹ cotton) to improve its stability in aqueous solutions. The adsorption of hexavalent chromium ions from water on the grafted chitosan was evaluated to determine, by means of linear and nonlinear models, the kinetic and isotherm adsorption of the process. The kinetics of pseudo second-order, pseudo first-order, and adsorption isotherms type II were obtained, that is, a monolayer adsorption on nonporous adsorbents with physical adsorption was present. The most probable energy of adsorption corresponded to a physisorption with hydrogen bond interactions between chromium ions and ammonium groups. Moreover, three different cross-sectional areas of hexavalent chromium ions were calculated and used to estimate the specific surface area employed by active sites to adsorb metal ions in terms of chitosan or cotton mass. Finally, the percentage of the area occupied by chromium ions on the surface was estimated by dividing the resulting specific surface area in terms of cotton mass by the specific surface area of cotton reported in literature. As a result, it was determined that the occupied area is between 6% (for 20 mg chitosan g⁻¹ cotton)-24% (for 100 mg chitosan g⁻¹ cotton) from the total area of cotton.     

Removal of chromium (III) and cadmium (II) from aqueous solutions

Chromium and cadmium are toxic heavy metals present in wastewaters from a variety of industries. A strong cationexchange resin, Amberlite IR 120, was used for the removal of chromium and cadmium. The resin was prepared in two different cationic forms, as Na⁺ and H⁺. The optimum conditions were concentration, pH, stirring time and resin amount. The concentration range was between 2–50 mg/L, pH range between 2–10, stirring time between 5–60 min, and the amount of resin was from 50–1000 mg. Exchange capacities, moisture content and optimum conditions of this resin were determined in a batch system. The stirring speed was 2000 rpm during all of the batch experiments. The initial and final chromium and cadmium amounts were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The optimum conditions were found to be a concentration of 20 mg/L, pH of 5.5, stirring time of 20 min and 100 mg of resin. The results obtained show that the Amberlite IR 120 strong cation-exchange resin performed well for the removal and recovery of chromium and cadmium.     

Adsorption of chromium(VI) from aqueous solutions onto amine-functionalized natural and acid-activated sepiolites

Chromium(VI) adsorption onto amine-functionalized sepiolites from aqueous solution at 298 K was investigated. Natural and acid-activated sepiolites were functionalized by covalent grafting [3-(2-aminoethylamino)propyl]trimethoxy-silane to the silanol groups onto the sepiolite surface. Functionalization was proved by differential thermal analysis and the point of zero charge, pH_pzc, determinations. The adsorption isotherms suggested that the adsorption capacity of the functionalized acid-activated sepiolite was higher than that of the functionalized natural sepiolite, for all investigated initial solution pH values. Adsorption efficiency of the functionalized sepiolites was improved by decreasing solution pH value. Due to the high value of pH_pzc and large buffer capacity of adsorbents, a very low initial solution pH value was required to achieve high protonation of the surface amine groups and provide electrostatic attraction of Cr(VI) anionic species. The maximum chromium(VI) removal was achieved at an initial pH of 2.0; ca. 60 mg/g of functionalized acid-activated sepiolite and ca. 37 mg/g of functionalized natural sepiolite. Equilibrium data for both functionalized sepiolites at an initial solution pH value of 2.0 fitted well to the Freundlich model. The adsorption process followed pseudo-second-order kinetics. The values of the thermodynamic parameters indicate a spontaneous adsorption process of a prevalently physical nature.     

Removal of hexavalent chromium from aqueous solutions by micellar compounds

The recovery of toxic metal compounds is a deep concern in all industries. Hexavalent chromium is particularly worrying because of its toxic influence on human health [1], [2] and [3]. Actually the wastewater norm (0.1 mg/l) is very strict and will become more severe in the near future. We present in this paper the experimental results of the metal ion which is bound on micellar compounds and then retained by ultrafiltration membrane. A well known surfactant cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTABr) is used as an adsorbent to remove hexavalent chromium from wastewaters. The effects of various experimental parameters on equilibrium adsorption of Cr(VI) on the surfactant have been investigated using batch adsorption experiments. It was found that the capacity of chromium adsorption on CTABr increases with initial metal concentration and in a lesser extent with pH solution. Total chromium adsorption decreased slightly with a rise in temperature suggesting an exothermic adsorption of chromium, thermodynamic parameters are evaluated. It has also been observed that the capacity of chromium adsorption decreases with the mass of adsorbent and concentration of other ions present in the solution. The metal ion adsorption on surfactant is well represented by the Freundlich isotherm.     

Removal of chromium (VI) from dilute aqueous solutions by activated carbon developed from Terminalia arjuna nuts activated with zinc chloride

Different structured activated carbons were prepared from Terminalia arjuna nuts, an agricultural waste, by chemical activation with zinc chloride for the adsorption of Cr(VI) from dilute aqueous solutions. The most important parameter in chemical activation was found to be the chemical ratio (activating agent/precursor, g/g). Carbonization temperature and time are the other two important variables, which had significant effect on the pore structure of carbon. A high surface area of was obtained at a chemical ratio of 300%, carbonization time and temperature of 1 h and 500 °C, respectively. The activated carbon developed shows substantial capability to adsorb Cr(VI) from dilute aqueous solutions. The parameters studied include pH, adsorbent dosage, contact time, and initial concentrations. The kinetic data were best fitted to the Lagergren pseudo-first-order model. The isotherm equilibrium data were well fitted by the Langmuir and Freundlich models. The maximum removal of chromium was obtained at pH 1.0 (about 99% for adsorbent dose of 2 g/l and 10 mg/l initial concentration).     

Preparation of magnetic zeolite/chitosan composite using silane as modifier for adsorption of Cr(VI) from aqueous solutions

This study aimed to prepare an efficient, cost-effective, and separable magnetic zeolite/chitosan composite (MZFA/CS) adsorbent from solid waste to deal with the water pollution of Cr(VI). The MZFA/CS was characterized by X-ray fluorescence (XRF), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) techniques. Then, the effect of pH, temperature, initial concentration of Cr(VI) ions, and contact time was considered in the study. For a sorbent dose of 0.1 g in 50 mL of a Cr(VI) solution, at a contact time of 30 min, temperature of 30°C, and a pH of 3, an adsorption capacity (q_e) of 16.96 mg g⁻¹ was achieved. Adsorption kinetics and isotherm data obtained for all adsorption systems were well-fitted by pseudo-second-order and Langmuir models, respectively. The thermodynamic study suggested that the adsorption process is spontaneous and endothermic in nature. In summary, the adsorbent with better separability (Ms = 16.83 emu g⁻¹) and adsorbability was successfully fabricated.     

Removal of copper(II) from an aqueous solution with copper(II)‐imprinted chitosan microspheres

Ion‐imprinted chitosan (CS) microspheres (MIPs) were prepared with Cu(II) as a template and epichlorohydrin as a crosslinker for the selective separation of Cu(II) from aqueous solution. The microspheres showed a higher adsorption capacity and selectivity for the Cu(II) ions than nonimprinted chitosan microspheres (NMIPs) without a template. The results show that the adsorption of Cu(II) on the CS microspheres was affected by the initial pH value, initial Cu(II) concentration, and temperature. The kinetic parameters of the adsorption process indicated that the adsorption followed a second‐order adsorption process. Equilibrium experiments showed very good fits with the Langmuir isotherm equation for the monolayer adsorption process. The maximum sorption capacity calculated from the Langmuir isotherm was 201.66 mg/g for the Cu–MIPs and 189.51 mg/g for the NMIPs; these values were close to the experimental ones. The selectivity coefficients of Cu(II) and other metal ions on the NMIPs indicated a preference for Cu(II). © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013     

Removal of Cr (VI) from aqueous solution by newspapers

The potential to remove Cr (VI) ions from aqueous solution using newspapers was investigated in the present study. The effects of relevant parameters such as solution pH, adsorbent concentration, and reaction temperature on Cr (VI) adsorption were examined. The adsorption of Cr (VI) ions onto newspapers was found to be highly pH-dependent and the highest uptake occurred at pH 1.0. The sorption equilibrium data were correlated to the Langmuir, Freundlich, Redlich-Peterson and Dubinin-Radushkevich equations. Five different non-linear error functions were examined and the result indicated that the Freundlich and Redlich-Peterson equations better fitted the equilibrium data than Langmuir isotherm. The maximum sorption capacity was found to be 55.06 mg/g at pH 1.0, adsorbent concentration 4 g/L and reaction temperature of 30 °C. Different thermodynamic parameters viz., changes in standard free energy (ΔG⁰), enthalpy (ΔH⁰) and entropy (ΔS⁰) were also evaluated and the results show that the sorption process was spontaneous and endothermic in nature. The kinetic experimental data were well fitted by the pseudo-second order, external film diffusion and diffusion models allowing the corresponding parameters to be evaluated. The sorption capacity increased with the decrease of adsorbent concentration.     

Removal of perchlorate from aqueous solution using protonated cross-linked chitosan

Protonated cross-linked chitosan was used to remove perchlorate from aqueous solution. Adsorption isotherms, the effects of pH and co-existing anions on the adsorption process, proper actual contact time in the adsorption column and the regeneration ability of the adsorbent were investigated. The equilibrium data fitted well with Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models, and the maximum monolayer adsorption capacity was 45.455 mg g^?1. To balance the protonated degree of the amino groups and the effect of the ion competing on adsorption capacity, the optimal pH value was determined to be about 4.0. Column adsorption results indicated that the proper actual contact time was 8.1 min and the effluent perchlorate could be steadily kept below 24.5 μg L^?1 up to about 95 bed volumes with the influent perchlorate of 10 mg L^?1. The presence of other anions weakened the perchlorate adsorption, especially the high valence anion such as sulfate. The adsorbents could be well regenerated by sodium hydroxide solution with pH 12 and reused at least for 15 cycles. Electrostatic attraction as well as physical force was the main driving force for perchlorate adsorption.     

Removal of trace boron from aqueous solution using iminobis-(propylene glycol) modified chitosan beads

In this paper, a new boron chelating chitosan based polymer with multi-hydroxyl iminobis (propylene glycol) (IBPG) functions was prepared. A cross-linked chitosan (CCTS) with 2.70 mmol g⁻¹ amine content was modified with excess amount of glycidol at pH 7 and boron chelating resin with IBPG functions (4.60 mmol g⁻¹) was obtained. The boron chelating ability of the resulting resin was investigated under different experimental conditions (pH, foreign ions). This prepared material was evaluated by FT–IR spectra and UV spectra analysis. The IBPG modified CCTS resin was demonstrated to have a boron loading capacity of 2.2 ± 0.05 mmol g⁻¹ within 45 min. Desorption and resin regeneration studies were carried out to determine the effectiveness of the synthesized resin with HCl and NaOH respectively. The adsorption test indicated that the chitosan based chelating resin with IBPG functions exhibited higher selectivity of boron (2.05 mmol g⁻¹) in the presence of foreign ions especially Fe(III).     

Degradation of some micro-pollutants from aqueous solutions using ferrate (VI): Physico-chemical studies

The aim of this communication is to investigate various physico-chemical parametric studies in the oxidative degradation of bisphenol A (BPA) and diclofenac (DCF) in aqueous solutions using the ferrate (VI). A wide range of pH (7.0–12.0) and concentrations of BPA/or DCF (0.03–0.5 mmol/L) is studied at a constant concentration of ferrate (VI) 0.1 mmol/L. Apparent rate constant was found to be 8.35 × 10² and 7.62 × 10² L/mol/min, respectively, for BPA and DCF degradation by the ferrate (VI). Further, decreasing the pH from 12.0 to 7.0, the corresponding increase is percentage degradation of BPA and DCF is found to be from 23 to 87% for BPA and from 14 to 41% for DCF, respectively, at the ferrate (VI) to micro-pollutant molar ratio 1:1. Total organic carbon data showed that partial mineralization of BPA/or DCF is achieved at a single operation of ferrate (VI) treatment. Moreover, decreasing the micro-pollutant concentration from 0.5 to 0.03 mmol/L has caused to increase the percentage TOC removal from 15 to 45% (for BPA) and from 10 to 38% (for DCF), respectively, at pH 7.0. The presence of NaCl, NaNO_3, and Na₂HPO₄ electrolytes could not affect significantly the oxidation of BPA and DCF by ferrate (VI). However, the presence of NaNO₂ and Na₂SO₃ co-existing ions hampered significantly the degradation of BPA and DCF using ferrate (VI).     

Removal of Cr(VI) from aqueous solution by surfactant-modified kaolinite

Removal of Cr(VI) from aqueous solution by hexadecyltrimethylammonium chloride (HDTMA) modified kaolinite (HMK) was investigated, where the maximum adsorptive capacity reached 27.8 mg/g Cr(VI) using HMK compared with only 0.7 mg/g using unmodified natural kaolinite (NK). The adsorption of Cr(VI) on HMK can be well described by the Langmuir isotherm, and the kinetic adsorption of Cr(VI) on both HMK and NK fitted a pseudo-second-order model. FTIR analysis showed that surface modified HDTMA was responsible for the high adsorptive capacity of Cr(VI). HMK was used to remove Cr(VI) from an electroplating wastewater.     

Removal of toxic metal Cr(VI) from aqueous solutions using sawdust as adsorbent: Equilibrium, kinetics and regeneration studies

In the present study, a low-cost adsorbent is developed from the naturally and abundantly available sawdust which is biodegradable. The removal capacity of Cr(VI) from aqueous solutions and from the synthetically prepared industrial effluent of electroplating and tannery industries is obtained. The batch experiments are carried out to investigate the effect of the significant process parameters such as initial pH, change in pH during adsorption, contact time, adsorbent amount, and the initial Cr(VI) concentration. The maximum adsorption of Cr(VI) on sawdust is obtained at an initial pH value of 1. The value of pH increases with increase in contact time and initial Cr(VI) concentration. The equilibrium data for the adsorption of Cr(VI) on sawdust is tested with various adsorption isotherm models such as Langmuir, Freundlich, Redlich–Peterson, Koble–Corrigan, Tempkin, Dubinin–Radushkevich and Generalized equation. The Langmuir isotherm model is found to be the most suitable one for the Cr(VI) adsorption using sawdust and the maximum adsorption capacity obtained is 41.5 mg g⁻¹ at a pH value of 1. The adsorption process follows the second-order kinetics and the corresponding rate constants are obtained. Desorption of Cr(VI) from sawdust using acid and base treatment exhibited a higher desorption efficiency by more than 95%. A feasible solution is proposed, for the disposal of the contaminant (acid and base solutions) containing high concentration of Cr(VI) obtained during the desorption process. The interference of other ions which are generally present in the electroplating and tannery industrial effluent streams on the Cr(VI) removal is investigated.     

Removal of copper(II) ions from aqueous solution onto chitosan and cross-linked chitosan beads

The adsorption of Cu(II) ions onto chitosan and cross-linked chitosan beads has been investigated. Chitosan beads were cross-linked with glutaraldehyde (GLA), epichlorohydrin (ECH) and ethylene glycol diglycidyl ether (EGDE) in order to obtain sorbents that are insoluble in aqueous acidic and basic solution. Batch adsorption experiments were carried out as a function of pH, agitation period, agitation rate and concentration of Cu(II) ions. A pH of 6.0 was found to be a optimum for Cu(II) adsorption on chitosan and cross-linked chitosan beads. Isotherm studies indicate Cu(II) can be effectively removed by chitosan and cross-linked chitosan beads. Adsorption isothermal data could be well interpreted by the Langmuir equation. Langmuir constants have been determined for chitosan and cross-linked chitosan beads. The experimental data of the adsorption equilibrium from Cu(II) solution correlated well with the Langmuir isotherm equation. The uptakes of Cu(II) ions on chitosan beads were 80.71 mg Cu(II)/g chitosan, on chitosan-GLA beads were 59.67 mg Cu(II)/g chitosan-GLA, on chitosan-ECH beads were 62.47 mg Cu(II)/g chitosan-ECH and on chitosan-EGDE beads were 45.94 mg Cu(II)/g chitosan-EGDE. The Cu(II) ions can be removed from the chitosan and cross-linked chitosan beads rapidly by treatment with an aqueous EDTA solution and at the same time the chitosan and cross-linked chitosan beads can be regenerated and also can be used again to adsorb heavy metal ions.