Zeolite X/chitosan hybrid microspheres and their adsorption properties for Cu(II) ions in aqueous solutions

The preparation of zeolite X/chitosan (CS) hybrid microspheres for efficient removal of Cu(II) ions by an impregnation-gelation-hydrothermal synthesis technique is reported here. Characterizations by various techniques indicate that the microspheres show porous structures and intimate interaction between zeolite and CS. The adsorption experiments are performed to evaluate the adsorption capacity of zeolite X/CS hybrid microspheres and comparisons are made with binderless zeolite X microspheres, pure CS microspheres and mechanical mixed zeolite X/CS microspheres. The effects of Cu(II) solution concentration and the pH are investigated. The results indicate that zeolite X/CS hybrid microspheres with the zeolite content of 60 wt% show the highest adsorption capacity, which is 90 mg/g at the initial Cu(II) concentration of 10 mg/L and 150.4 mg/g at Cu(II) concentration of 500 mg/L. The adsorption capacity increases with increasing initial pH and reaches a maximum at pH 5.5 in the range of 0–6.0. The equilibrium adsorption data are well described by the Langmuir isotherm model, exhibiting a maximum adsorption capacity of 152.0 mg/g, and the kinetic data are well fitted with the pseudo-second-order equation. Complete removal of Cu(II) ions can be obtained even at very low concentrations. The microspheres show high adsorption capacity and efficiency for Cu(II) ions, exhibiting potential practical application in the treatment of water pollution of heavy metal ions.