Metals Removal from Contaminated Aqueous Medium by Using Modified Cellulose-N(4)-Antipyrinyl Thiosemicarbazide

Abstract

Water contamination by harmful heavy metal ions was considered the major problems in environmental health field. This work focused to synthesize of the modified cellulose and investigate it as a possible metal cations adsorbent. Modified cellulose was prepared and identified by elemental analysis, (X-ray), (SEM) and (FTIR) spectroscopy. The ability of modified cellulose to adsorb heavy metals ions was investigated by batch experiments according to various conditions for example pH of the solution, temperature degree, time of the contact between adsorbent and adsorbate, adsorbent weight and the concentration of the metal’s cations. SEM micrograph showed that the modified material has irregularly shaped pores and cavities. Elemental and FTIR analyses indicate the success of the addition process of N(4)-antipyrinyl thiosemicarbazide moiety onto cellulose. The obtained data showed that the maximum uptake efficiency (100%) of Pb²⁺, Cd²⁺, Mn²⁺, Ni²⁺ and Fe³⁺ reached at optimal pH= 7 for [Cd²⁺, Mn²⁺and Fe³⁺] and pH= 5 for [Pb²⁺and Ni²⁺]. The optimum used dosages are 0.07 g for [Pb²⁺and Ni²⁺] and 0.09 g for [Cd²⁺, Mn²⁺and Fe³⁺]. All experiments were achieved at 1 h contact time, room temperature and an initial concentration 3 ppm. Kinetic investigations showed that the uptake of metals ions onto modified cellulose was chemical adsorption and follow Langmuir adsorption model. Also, the results of thermodynamic characteristics show that the metal cation adsorption process is exothermic and spontaneous.

Highlights

• Cel-ATH was prepared through the addition of N(4)-antipyrinyl thiosemicarbazide to cellulose.

• Modification was done to increase the removal ability of cellulose.

• The adsorption efficiency of Cel-ATH was examined via batch technique.

• The adsorption was examined on single component solution system.

• Cel-ATH removed different metals from wastewater sample.

Keywords:

• Cellulose-N-(4)antipyrinyl thiosemicarbazide
• adsorption
• heavy metals
• batch experiments
• kinetic
• isotherms
• thermodynamics

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).