Development of chitosan supported zirconium(IV) tungstophosphate composite for fluoride removal.
A new biocomposite was prepared by incorporating inorganic ion exchanger namely zirconium(IV) tungstophosphate (ZrWP) into the chitosan biopolymeric matrix. The sorption behaviour of fluoride from aqueous solutions by this ZrWP/chitosan (ZrWPCs) composite has been investigated by batch technique. The fluoride sorption was studied as a function of contact time, pH, initial fluoride concentration, competing co-ions and temperature. The defluoridation capacity (DC) of the adsorbent was found to be 2025 mg F(-) kg(-1). The composite was characterized using FTIR and SEM with EDAX analysis. The equilibrium sorption data were fitted to Freundlich and Langmuir isotherms. The kinetics of sorption was found to follow pseudo-second-order and intraparticle diffusion models. The values of thermodynamic parameters indicate the nature of sorption is spontaneous and endothermic. The biocomposite was successfully used for the removal of fluoride from the field water taken in a nearby fluoride endemic village.
Viswanathan
Natrayasamy
N
Department of Chemistry, Anna University Tiruchirappalli-Dindigul Campus, Dindigul 624622, Tamil Nadu, India. natrayasamy viswanathan@rediffmail.com
Meenakshi
S
S
D000327:Adsorption; D048271:Chitosan; D003188:Composite Resins / Q000737:chemistry; D005459:Fluorides / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D007700:Kinetics; D013816:Thermodynamics; D017973:Tungsten Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D018508:Water Purification / Q000379:methods; D015040:Zirconium
D003188:Composite Resins; D017973:Tungsten Compounds; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D048271:Chitosan; D015040:Zirconium; D005459:Fluorides