A new tannin-based adsorbent synthesized for rapid and selective recovery of palladium and gold: Optimization using central composite design

A tannin-based adsorbent was synthesized by pomegranate peel tannin powder modified with ethylenediamine (PT-ED) for the rapid and selective recovery of palladium and gold. To characterize PT-ED, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS-Mapping), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) were used. Central composite design (CCD) was used for optimization. The kinetic, isotherm, interference of coexisting metal ions, and thermodynamics were studied. The optimal conditions, including Au (III) concentration = 30 mg L- 1, Pd (II) concentration = 30 mg L- 1, adsorbent mass = 26 mg, pH = 2, and time = 26 min with the sorption percent more than 99 %, were anticipated for both metals using CCD. Freundlich model and pseudo-second-order expressed the isotherm and kinetic adsorption of the both metals. The inhomogeneity of the adsorbent surface and the multi-layer adsorption of gold and palladium ions on the PT-ED surface are depicted by the Freundlich model. The thermodynamic investigation showed that Pd2+ and Au3+ ions adsorption via PT-ED was an endothermic, spontaneous, and feasible process. The maximum adsorption capacity of Pd2+ and Au3+ ions on PT-ED was 261.189 mg g-1 and 220.277 mg g-1, respectively. The probable adsorption mechanism of Pd2+ and Au3+ ions can be ion exchange and chelation. PT-ED (26 mg) recovered gold and palladium rapidly from the co-existing metals in the printed circuit board (PCB) scrap, including Ca, Zn, Si, Cr, Pb, Ni, Cu, Ba, W, Co, Mn, and Mg with supreme selectivity toward gold and palladium. The results of this work suggest the use of PT-ED with high selectivity and efficiency to recover palladium and gold from secondary sources such as PCB scrap.