Effect of polyaniline maize tree-trunk composite on adsorption of lead (II) and cadmium (II) ions from solution

Hybrid nanostructured composite by polyaniline (PANi) and maize tree-trunk (MTT) was prepared by chemical polymerization method. Its structural morphology was nano range through SEM and TEM images. The decomposition temperature of PANi-MTT composite for 61.9% was about 341 degrees C, less than that of PANi (about 507 degrees C) for 46.6% through thermal analysis. It means this composite is less thermal stable than pure PANi because of MTT presence in composite matrix. The conductivity of PANi-MTT in salt form was 0.597 mS cm(-1), much smaller than that of pure PANi (35 mS cm(-1)) in the same state. The adsorption isotherm process of lead (II) and Cd (II) on PANi-MTT followed by Freundlich model better than by Langmuir one thanks to higher correlation coefficients (similar to 1). It occurred spontaneously and fitted into the second order reaction. The maximum capacities were 121.951 mg g(-1) and 54.645 mg g(-1) for Pb2+ and Cd2+ ions, respectively.