Adsorption of Lignosulfonate Compound from Aqueous Solution onto Chitosan-Silica Beads

Abstract

The main objective of this study is to investigate the possibility of crosslinked chitosan-tetraethoxy orthosilane (TEOS) (chitosan-silica) beads to be used as an adsorbent material to adsorb the lignosulfonate compound in solution. Different parameters affecting the adsorption capacity such as contact time, adsorbent dosage, initial concentration, pH, ionic strength, and temperature have been investigated. Adsorption isotherms of lignosulfonates onto chitosan-silica beads were also studied. Batch adsorption experiments were carried out and the optimum lignosulfonate adsorption onto chitosan-silica beads occurred at contact time of 30 minutes, the adsorbent dosage of 40 g/L, initial concentration of 50 mg/L, pH 5, and a temperature of 45°C. Adsorption isotherms studied through the use of graphical methods revealed that the adsorption of lignosulfonates onto chitosan-silica beads follows the Langmuir model, with the maximum adsorption capacity being 238.3 mg/g at pH 7. Adsorption is dependent on the ionic strength. The adsorption of lignosulfonate on chitosan-silica beads was best described with the pseudo-second-order kinetic model with a rate constant of 0.32 g · mg⁻¹ · min⁻¹, while intra-particle-diffusion was the main rate-determining step in the lignosulfonate adsorption process. The chitosan-silica beads investigated in this study were thus exhibited as a high potential adsorbent for the removal of lignosulfonate from solution.

Keywords:

• adsorption
• chitosan
• lignosulfonate
• silica

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The authors are very grateful to Institut Teknologi Bandung for the financial support for this research study.