title: Preparation, characterization, and application of polypropylene-clinoptilolite composites for the selective adsorption of lead from aqueous media.
abstract: A polymer composite of polypropylene (PP) and clinoptilolite (CLI) for the adsorption of lead has been prepared using the melt-mixing compounding technique in a rheomixer. Characterization of the composite was performed using scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Brunuer-Emmett-Teller (BET), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The influence of contact time, pH, initial metal-ion concentration, temperature, and pretreatment on the adsorption of lead (Pb) by the PP-CLI composite was investigated. Optimum pH was found to be between pH 6 and pH 8 while the maximum sorption of lead at optimal pH was 95%. No difference was observed between the adsorption behavior of composites functionalized with 20% and 30% clinoptilolite, respectively, while the pretreatment with HCl and NaCl made a slight difference to the adsorption capacity of composites. The findings from this study on the lead adsorption behavior of CLI-PP composite may have potential applications in wastewater and water purification works.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Technology, University of Johannesburg, P.O. Box 17011, Doornfontein 2028, South Africa.
authors.forename: Machawe M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Motsa
authors.forename: Bhekie B
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: Mamba
authors.forename: Justice M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Thwala
authors.forename: Titus A M
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Msagati
mesh_terms: D000327:Adsorption; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007854:Lead / Q000737:chemistry*; D011126:Polypropylenes / Q000737:chemistry*; D013499:Surface Properties; D013696:Temperature; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry; D017641:Zeolites / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D011126:Polypropylenes; D014867:Water; C083175:clinoptilolite; D017641:Zeolites; D007854:Lead