Abstract
The removal of Lead (Pb2+) ions from waste water in the aquatic environment by copper oxide–kaolinite composite forms an important step involved in the reduction of Lead ions in the environment. The study investigated the synthesis, characterization, and application of copper oxide–kaolinite composite in the removal of Lead ions from aqueous systems. The synthesis of the composite involved a trimetric process to produce the copper oxide (CuO)–kaolinite composite. The characterization involved the determination of cation exchange capacity, specific surface area, and spectral analysis by sodium saturation method, nitrogen gas adsorption techniques, and scanning electron spectroscopy, respectively. The determination of parameters affecting the reaction mechanism and reaction kinetics involved the use of batch mode techniques. The findings indicated a reaction mechanism that was less than one proton coefficient, higher mass transfer rates when compared with uncoated kaolinite. Here, the intraparticle diffusion was higher than the value for the uncoated kaolinite. The reactions based on Pb2+ initial concentration indicated that the coated kaolinite gradually became saturated as the concentration was increased. The reactions based on solid concentration (Cp) demonstrated a complex change in the capacity of adsorption over different Pb2+ concentrations (10–40 mgL−1) and solid concentrations (2–10 gL−1). Here, the reduction in specific surface area, particle size increase, mineral aggregation, and concentration gradient effect controlled the complex changes in adsorption. In conclusion, the copper oxide–kaolinite composite significantly enhanced the adsorption of Pb2+ ions.
Highlights
The removal of Lead (Pb2+) ions from waste water in the aquatic environment by copper oxide–kaolinite composite forms an important step involved in the reduction of Lead ions in the environment
The characterization involved the determination of cation exchange capacity, specific surface area, and spectral analysis by sodium saturation method, nitrogen gas adsorption techniques, and scanning electron spectroscopy, respectively
The determination of parameters affecting the reaction mechanism and reaction kinetics involved the use of batch mode techniques
Summary
The removal of Lead (Pb2+) ions from waste water in the aquatic environment by copper oxide–kaolinite composite forms an important step involved in the reduction of Lead ions in the environment. The hydrometallurgical leaching of Cu–Pb–Zn ore to recover Cu and Zn metals releases metal load including P b2+ ions into the environment (Tkacova et al 1993; Tipre and Dave 2004) These slurries and effluents constitute an emerging source of P b2+ ions into the aquatic environment and groundwater in particular. The contamination of groundwater by these slurries is through infiltration into shallow wells (Kuncoro et al 2018; Zhang et al 2018) These slurries and effluents containing P b2+ ions are toxic to humans and the ecosystem and have attracted scientific interest (Arancibia-Miranda et al 2016; Eric et al 2010; Stephan et al 2010; Dastoora and Larocpue 2004).
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