Removal of Copper and Nickel from Aqueous Solutions Using Chitosan Coated on Perlite as Biosorbent

Abstract

Chitosan has been increasingly studied as an adsorbent for removing heavy metal ions from aqueous solutions through adsorption due to the presence of free amino and hydroxyl groups. For most of the studies chitosan has been used in the form of flakes, powder, or hydrogel beads. Chitosan in its natural form has a tendency to agglomerate or to form gel in the aqueous medium. To overcome this problem a new composite chitosan biosorbent is prepared by coating chitosan, a glucosamine biopolymer on to perlite, a silicate ore. In the present investigation, equilibrium adsorption characteristics of Cu(II) and Ni(II) on newly developed biosorbent are studied. The effect of pH, agitation time, concentration of adsorbate, and amount of adsorbent on extent of adsorption are investigated. The experimental data are fitted to Langmuir and Freundlich adsorption isotherms, and to first‐order Lagergren equation. The experimental results demonstrate that chitosan coated on perlite is an effective sorbent for immobilizing Cu(II) and Ni(II).