Methodical study of chromium (VI) ion adsorption from aqueous solution using low-cost agro-waste material: isotherm, kinetic, and thermodynamic studies

This study involved preparation and modification of Saccharum officinarium as adsorbent used for the removal of chromium (VI) ions in a batch process. The adsorbent was modified with oxalic acid for improved performance of the adsorbent by increasing the surface area of the adsorbent. Surface morphology of the adsorbents was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD), while Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) analysis was carried out before and after the adsorption of Cr (VI) ions to determine the participating functional group in the processes. The optimum adsorption was attained at pH 2 and contact time of 180 min with efficiency of adsorption of 56.7 and 92.6% onto RSO and MSO, respectively. The adsorption capacity increases with increase in initial metal ion concentration of the sorption mixture. The isotherms studies indicate that the experimental data were best fitted to Freundlich, Langmuir, and Sips models with R-2 = 0.999 for adsorption of Cr (VI) ions onto raw S. officinarium (RSO) and modified S. officinarium (MSO). The maximum adsorption capacity obtained were 227.27 and 243.90 mg*g(-1) while the adsorption energy obtained from D-R were found to be 3.460 and 6.325 kJ*mol(-1) onto RSO and MSO, respectively. This revealed that the physiosorption process was favored in interaction of Cr (VI) ions onto both adsorbents. Separation factors obtained showed that the process is favored with increase in initial concentration of the adsorbate. Thermodynamic parameter values obtained showed that the sorption of Cr (VI) ions onto RSO and MSO is feasible, spontaneous, and endothermic in nature. The positive value of Delta S degrees indicates increase in disorderliness of the adsorption process. Kinetic data achieved at different initial concentrations of adsorbate have been analyzed, and the mechanism of the reaction was also studied by intra-particle and Bangham kinetic model. Each of the models was tested with R-2 (>) 0.9, where pseudo-second-order is the best-fitted model and Bangham mechanism only fitted with adsorption of Cr (VI) ions onto RSO. The reusability potential of RSO and MSO contributes to the economic values and reliability of the adsorbents for removal of Cr (VI) ions from aqueous solution.