Creating a new polyaniline@oak acorn biocomposite to remove chromium ions from wastewater effectively

Abstract

A novel biocomposite material, polyaniline@oak acorn (PANI@OA), was synthesized through a straightforward in situ chemical polymerization process. The resulting adsorbent was subjected to a comprehensive analysis using various techniques, including Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), specific surface area measurement (BET), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). This thorough characterization provided a detailed understanding of the material’s structure and properties. The effectiveness of synthesized material in removing Cr(VI) ions from water was investigated in a controlled batch adsorption setup. The findings highlighted a firm reliance on physicochemical properties during adsorption. The adsorption behavior of Cr(VI) onto PANI@OA fits best with the pseudo-second-order kinetic model and closely follows the Langmuir isothermal mode. The maximum adsorption capacity of this composite material was accurately measured at 249.09 mg.g−1. We also found that PANI@OA can be easily regenerated using a NaOH solution. Thus, allowing it to be used repeatedly to eliminate Cr(VI) from water. These outcomes strongly suggest the practical feasibility of employing PANI@OA as a versatile, low-cost, and environmentally friendly composite for environmental remediation due to its adequate adsorption capacity for wastewater treatment.