Preparation of Silica-Supported Biosorbents for Copper(II) Removal

Abstract

The objective of this study is the preparation of various types of functionalized silica particles for the capture of Cu(II) ions. Amino-functionalized silica and hybrid chitosan/silica particles have been prepared by grafting silica with amino groups and/or adsorption of chitosan on the surface of silica to develop efficient adsorbents for heavy metals ions in water. The adsorption of Cu(II) on these materials was carried out at pH 5 at 298 K. The kinetics were evaluated utilizing pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-order models. The best interpretation for equilibrium data was given by both Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models. The adsorption kinetics followed the mechanism of the pseudo-second-order equation for all systems studied. This study demonstrates that the adsorption capacities for Cu(II) ions are more efficient for the bio-hybrid material compared to amino-functionalized silica.

Keywords:

• Adsorption
• biopolymer
• chitosan
• Cu(II)
• silica

Notes

From the Proceedings from Formula VI in Stockholm 2010.