title: Chromium (VI) ion adsorption by grafted cross-linked chitosan beads in aqueous solution - a mathematical and statistical modeling study.
abstract: Chitosan outstanding qualities and efficient way of binding metal ions even to near zero concentration is the major reason for special attention. Modification of chitosan allows the polymer to be applied in numerous field of research. Depending on the modification techniques, chitosan possesses increased adsorption capacity. In this study chitosan beads (CS) were formulated from chitosan flakes, the beads were cross-linked with glutaraldehyde and thereafter grafted with ethyldiaminetetraacetic acid. The stability and amine concentration of the beads were determined. The chemical functionalities of the beads were obtained by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). However, in the adsorption studies with Cr(VI), the number of runs in the experiment was obtained by response surface methodology (RSM), and the maximum adsorption capacity (Qm) from each run was determined from the Langmuir model. The results of the experiment showed that the non-modified beads were soluble at pH 1-4 and insoluble at pH 5, while the modified beads were insoluble at pH 1-6. The amine concentration of CS, CCS and grafted cross-linked chitosan beads (GCCS) were 4.4, 3.8 and 5.0 mmol/g, respectively. The point of zero charge (pHPZC) of GCCS was found to be 4.4. The quadratic model was significant and adequate in describing the experimental data. The difference between experimental and predicted Qmwas negligible. From the design matrix and results, increased Qmwas achieved at pH 5, contact time 70 min, temperature 45°C, adsorbent dosage 5 g and initial concentration 70 mg/l. The desorption of the beads loaded with Cr(VI) was successful with 0.5 M HCl eluant and contact time of 180 min, leading to cost minimization.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Chemical Engineering , Vaal University of Technology , Vanderbijlpark , South Africa.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Igberase
authors.affiliation: a Department of Chemical Engineering , Vaal University of Technology , Vanderbijlpark , South Africa.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Osifo
authors.affiliation: a Department of Chemical Engineering , Vaal University of Technology , Vanderbijlpark , South Africa.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ofomaja
mesh_terms: D000327:Adsorption; D048271:Chitosan / Q000737:chemistry*; D002857:Chromium / Q000737:chemistry*; D005976:Glutaral; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid / Q000379:methods*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D002857:Chromium; C074702:chromium hexavalent ion; D048271:Chitosan; D005976:Glutaral
keywords: Grafted cross-linked chitosan beads; desorption; maximum adsorption capacity; response surface methodology