Dendrocalamus strictus Charcoal: An Efficient Adsorbent for Removal of Cu (II) Ions from Aqueous Solution and its Applicability in the Reduction of Genotoxic Potential of Cu (II) Ions.

Abstract

The present study pertains to evaluate the efficiency of Dendrocalamus strictus charcoal powder as an adsorbent to adsorb copper ions from aqueous solution under different conditions of pH, initial metal ion concentration, adsorbent dose, contact time, and temperature. Physical characterization of Dendrocalamus strictus charcoal powder was performed using different techniques such as scanning electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, Brunauer Emmett and Teller surface analysis and X-ray diffraction. Langmuir, Freundlich, and Temkin isotherm models were employed to describe the adsorption behavior of adsorbent in the removal of copper ions from aqueous solution. Thermodynamic parameters indicated that the adsorption of copper ions onto the surface of the adsorbent was feasible, spontaneous, and endothermic in nature. Data analysis using kinetic models revealed the pseudo-second-order as the suitable model to describe the process of adsorption. Studies were further carried out to analyze the genotoxic effects of copper ions in aqueous solution before and after adsorption, using Allium cepa assay. This study revealed that Dendrocalamus strictus charcoal powder could be applied as an alternative for more costly adsorbents in the detoxification of copper ions from aqueous solution.