Batch and column modeling of Cd (II) separation from aqueous phase using chitosan nitrogen foam carbon

Abstract

Beetmolasses resulting from the sugar industry was mixed with keratin solution to prepare nitrogen foam carbon (N-PC) by carbonization. Amino functional groups were introduced to N-PC by coating with a chitosan layer to produce chitosan nitrogen foam carbon (CH- N-PC). The structure of CH- N-PC was characterized and used as an adsorbent in the column and batch sorption system to separate Cd (II) from the aqueous phase. In the column system, the maximum removal was reached 77.30% with a sorption capacity of 133.22 mg/g at optimum pH.5.0. Thomas model indicates a well-fitting with higher R2 > 0.98 than other models. In the batch system indicated a well-fitting with Pseudo-second-order model (R2 > 0.998) with agreement between experimental (qe: 219.45 mg/g) and calculated sorption capacity (qe: 222.64 mg/g) than other models. The batch thermodynamic study showed that the sorption system is an exothermic process. CH-N-PC adsorbent has good regeneration with 2.0 M HCl and recycled up to 5 cycles which indicates the economical use of CH-N-PC in the Cd (II) column sorption system.