Uptake of Pb(II) Ions from Simulated Aqueous Solution via Nanochitosan

Camellia Zareie,Habibollah Younesi,Saeideh Kholghi Eshkalak,Seeram Ramakrishna,Mazyar Sharifzadeh Baei,Ghasem Najafpour Darzi

doi:10.3390/coatings9120862

Abstract

In this work, nanochitosan (NC) was prepared through ionic gelation using low molecular weight chitosan and maleic acid (MA). The synthesized NC was characterized by atomic force microscopy (AFM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). During preparation, the particle size of the material depended on parameters such as concentration of chitosan and pH of the aqueous solution. After controlling the mentioned parameters, NC smaller than 100 nm was prepared. The chitosan and prepared NC were employed for the adsorption of Pb(II) from an aqueous solution in the form of a batch system. Among the sorption parameters, pH showed the strongest effect on the sorption process and removal of the maximum number of Pb(II) ions was obtained at pH value of 6. Pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-order models were used to track the kinetics of the adsorption process. Langmuir and Freundlich’s isotherms were subjected to the absorption data to evaluate absorption capacity. NC proved to be an excellent adsorbent with a remarkable capacity to eliminate Pb(II) ions from aqueous solutions at multiple concentrations. The NC also showed better performance with a comparatively easier preparation process than in other reported work.

Highlights

Contamination from heavy metals is considered a serious threat to the environment and public health because of their non-biodegradability, high toxicity, and organism bioaccumulation [1].Generally, heavy metals are very toxic and can cause serious damage to living organisms even at low concentrations [2]
They demonstrate the formation of maleic acid (MA)-chitosan nanoparticles via the polymerization of MA in the presence of chitosan molecules for electrostatic interactions
The results indicate that the increase in particle size is due to increased chitosan concentration

Summary

Introduction

Contamination from heavy metals is considered a serious threat to the environment and public health because of their non-biodegradability, high toxicity, and organism bioaccumulation [1]. Heavy metals are very toxic and can cause serious damage to living organisms even at low concentrations [2]. Pb(II), a heavy metal, can cause irreversible damage to the brain as well as the nervous and kidney systems following entry into the human body. These damages may cause cancer, amnesia, and mental retardation [3]. Various techniques are used for the removal of heavy metals from water and wastewater, Coatings 2019, 9, 862; doi:10.3390/coatings9120862 www.mdpi.com/journal/coatings

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