Removal of Pb(II) Metal Ions from Aqueous Solutions Using Chitosan-Vanillin Derivatives of Chelating Polymers

Abstract

Our study investigates the removal of Pb(II) ions found in aqueous solutions using chitosan-vanillin polymeric material. The effects of pH, agitation time, adsorbent mass, and initial amount of studied ion on the chelation process have been carried out using batch experiments. The quantity of residual ions has been estimated via atomic absorption spectrometry. The polymers are characterized using infrared spectroscopy, TGA, SEM, and BET surface area. The highest removal of Pb(II) ions achieved by polymers I and II was at pH 6. The Langmuir isotherm worked as the greatest explanation for the experimental outcome with highest chelation capability equal to 23.3 mg g-1 for polymer I and 66.23 mg g-1 for polymer II. Kinetic studies revealed that chemisorption was the rate-determining step, whereas the uptake was natural and endothermic.