Feather keratin derived sorbents for the treatment of wastewater produced during energy generation processes

Abstract

Water dependency of energy generation systems including renewable energy resources pollute water. Efforts are being made to control energy-related water pollution. Here in, eight keratin derived biopolymers were developed to sequester the toxic trace elements from synthetic wastewater. Chemical modifications of biopolymers affect their physical and chemical characteristics, hence, enhance the sorption of contaminants from wastewaters. KBP-I (processed chicken feathers), KBP-II (acid modified), KBP-III & KBP-IV (modified with ionic liquids), KBP-V (amine modified), KBP-VI & KBP-VII (POSS modified) and KBP-VIII (sodium sulfite modified) were characterised for their surface morphology, structural integrity, functional group changes, crystallinity behaviour, surface area and pore size distribution using different analytical techniques. Developed biopolymers were then tested against synthetic wastewater spiked with nine transition and redox sensitive elements (100 μg L−1 each). Among the eight biopolymers, KBP-I removed 87–93% of As and Cd, KBP-IV removed 80–85% of Cu and VV, KBP-V removed 60–90% of Co, Ni and Zn, whereas KBP-VI removed 95% of CrVI. The developed keratin biopolymers show prospects to effectively treat the metals contaminated wastewater.