Adsorptive Elimination of Lead(II) Ions from Saline Effluents Using Chemically Functionalized Orange Peel Biomass

International Journal of Chemistry | Vol. 11, No. 8, August 2020 | pp. 57–64

DOI: 10.46882/2020/IJC/000142

Article Type: Original Research Paper

Title: Adsorptive Elimination of Lead(II) Ions from Saline Effluents Using Chemically Functionalized Orange Peel Biomass

Names of Authors: E. N. Chidi¹, M. A. van der Berg²*

Authors’ Affiliations:
¹Department of Pure and Industrial Chemistry, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria.
²Department of Chemical Engineering, Delft University of Technology, Delft, Netherlands.

Abstract: Heavy metal contamination of surface waters by battery assembly facilities demands the chemical configuration of low-cost, stable, and highly active biosorption matrices. This investigation reports the adsorptive efficiency of a modified agricultural adsorbent derived from orange (Citrus sinensis) peel wastes prepared via carboxylation with monochloroacetic acid. The chemical transformations and surface porous architectures of the matrix were examined through scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and FT-IR spectroscopy. The analytical data confirmed that the carboxylation process successfully integrated carboxyl (-COOH) functional ligand networks across the cellulosic biomass structure. Batch extraction experiments evaluated parameters of solution pH, equilibrium contact time, adsorbent dosage, and initial Pb(II) concentrations. Maximum Pb(II) adsorption occurred at an optimum pH of 5.5, using an equilibrium contact period of 90 minutes. Equilibrium data matched the Langmuir model closely, showing a maximum monolayer adsorption capacity of 62.45 mg/g at 298 K. Sorption kinetics followed a pseudo-second-order model with a high correlation coefficient (R² > 0.998), proving that chemical surface complexation reactions controlled the mass transfer rates. Thermodynamic parameters confirmed process spontaneity and endothermic characteristics, highlighting this modified biomass as an affordable material for water treatment plant design.

Keywords: Orange peel; Chemical modification; Carboxylation; Lead removal; Adsorption kinetics; Chemisorption

Manuscript Timeline: Received: February 18, 2020; Revised: April 02, 2020; Accepted: May 15, 2020; Published: August 03, 2020.

Citation: Chidi, E. N., & van der Berg, M. A. (2020). Adsorptive Elimination of Lead(II) Ions from Saline Effluents Using Chemically Functionalized Orange Peel Biomass. International Journal of Chemistry, 11(8), 57–64.

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