Adsorption of Cd (II), Pb (II) and Cr (III) on chemically modified Euterpe Oleracea biomass for the remediation of water pollution

Resumo

This study evaluated the use of Euterpe oleracea endocarp after chemical modification with H₂O₂, H₂SO₄ and NaOH for the removal of Cd²⁺, Pb²⁺ and Cr³⁺ from water. Therefore, the adsorbent was characterized for its chemical composition, Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) analysis, Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) images, and pH of point of zero charge (pH_PZC), thermal stability and porosimetry. Adsorption tests were conducted by using a Central Composite Design (CCD). Pseudo-first order, pseudo-second order, Elovich and intraparticle diffusion models evaluated the adsorption kinetics, and sorption isotherms were linearized according to Langmuir, Freundlich and Dubinin-Radushkevich. The effect of initial concentration, temperature in the process and the desorption were also analyzed. SEM results showed that the açaí­ adsorbents (or CA) had irregular and heterogeneous structure, and IR analysis evidenced the presence of hydroxyl, aliphatic, phenolic and carboxylic surface groups; both analyses indicate favorable adsorption characteristics. The pH_PZC of the adsorbent is 4.41, 4.02 and 7.10 for CA modified with H₂O₂, H₂SO₄ and NaOH, respectively. The optimum adsorption conditions were pH 5.0, within 40 min, with 4 g L^-1 as the ideal adsorbent dose. The predominance of chemisorption occurs, in mono and multilayer. The adsorption is only spontaneous for Cd²⁺ at 15 and 25°C. The CA has the potential to increase the removal efficiency of Cd, Pb and Cr, when chemically modified, particularly with H₂O₂ and H₂SO₄.