Synergistic effect of organic-inorganic hybrid nanocomposite ion exchanger on photocatalytic degradation of Rhodamine-B dye and heavy metal ion removal from industrial effluents

Abstract

Present work reports the synthesis of Chitosan-Gelatin @ zirconium (IV) selenophosphate nanocomposite (CH-GEL/ZSPNC) ion exchanger. CH-GEL/ZSPNC was characterized by different characterization techniques using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopic studies (EDX), High resolution-transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), powdered X-ray diffraction (PXRD) and Thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA). Physicochemical properties like ion exchange capacity (IEC), thermal stability, elution behaviour, eluent concentration, pH titration, chemical stability and distribution coefficient (Kd) of (CH-GEL/ZSPNC) ion exchanger were investigated. The ion exchange capacity of the synthesized nanocomposite was improved by one and half order (2.4 mequiv/g) as compare to its inorganic moiety (1.6 mequiv/g) and highest among a number of nanocomposite ion exchangers already reported in the literature. CH-GEL/ZSPNC ion exchanger was found to be thermally stable and retained 58.3% ion exchange capacity (IEC) of its original IEC value at 400 °C. Pb (II) and Cu (II) was found to possess the highest values of Kd. Binary separation of divalent heavy metal ions has been conducted on the basis of Kd values. Photocatalytic degradation of the Rhodamine-B (RD-B) dye was explored with CH-GEL/ZSPNC in the solar radiations. It has been investigated that 84% of the RD-B dye was degraded after 160 min of photo exposure. Photodegradation of the RD-B follows the pseudo-first-order kinetics. Thus, the synthesized CH-GEL/ZSPNC ion exchanger is found to be a superior advanced nanocomposite photocatalyst for environmental remediation of dye pollutants, heavy metal ion removal, the binary separations and possessed tremendous reusability potential.