ADSORPTION OF LEAD (II) IONS FROM AQUEOUS SOLUTIONS USING MANGROVE ROOTS (Rhizophora mucronata) CHARCOAL-CARBON NANOTUBES NANOCOMPOSITE

Abstract

Providing clean and affordable water to meet human needs is a grand challenge of the 21st century. Worldwide, water supply struggles to keep up with the fast growing demand, which is exacerbated by population growth, global climate change, and water quality deterioration. Nanotechnology holds great potential in advancing water treatment to improve water treatment efficiency. In this study, Mangrove Roots Charcoal and Carbon Nanotubes (MRC- CNTs) nanocomposite was synthesized and utilized as a novel adsorbent for the removal of lead ions from aqueous solutions. The efficacy of MRC-CNT nanocomposites was investigated in batch mode which involved the effects of pH, temperature, concentration of the lead ions, adsorbent mass and contact time on adsorbates removal. Characterization of the adsorbent was carried out by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) to observe the morphology of the adsorbent and surface area analysis and Energy Dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) to determine the elemental composition of the adsorbent. Adsorption isotherm models and adsorption kinetic studies were used for data analysis. It was observed that the removal efficiency of Pb (II) ions depended on pH of solution and the maximum efficiency was noticed at pH 7 with adsorption capacity of 3.629 mg/g which was calculated by the Freundlich isotherm model. Kinetic studies were well suited and found in good agreement with pseudo-second order. The results indicated that MRC-CNT nanocomposites would be a promising adsorbent for adsorption of Pb (II) ions from aqueous solutions.