Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1
Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Cairo University, 12613, Giza, Egypt
2
Refractories, Ceramics and Building Materials Department, Advanced Material Technology & Mineral Resources Research Institute, National Research Centre (NRC), El Bohouth St., Dokki, 12622 Cairo, Egypt.
3
Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Cairo University, 12613, Giza, Egypt Nanoscience Department, Institute of Basic and Applied Sciences, Egypt-Japan University of Science and Technology, New Borg El Arab, 21934, Alexandria, Egypt
Abstract
Abstract: The present study has been focused on the synthesis and application of multi-functional hybrid nanocomposites for efficient removal of chromium III ions from wastewater. The nanocomposites developed include CS/TiO2, CS/ZnO, CS/ZnO/g-C3N4, and CS/TiO2-Ag/g-C3N4 by combining chitosan with metal oxides, graphitic carbon nitride, and silver nanoparticles. Characterization of the nanocomposites was done using TEM, XRD, DLS, zeta potential, and BET surface area analysis. The CS/TiO2-Ag/g-C3N4 nanocomposite showed the largest BET surface area and the zeta potential to be 258.91 m2/g and +38.2 mV, respectively. The conditions for contact time, initial ion concentration, and adsorbent dose were evaluated for efficiency in removing Cr3+ ions. CS/TiO2-Ag/g-C3N4 demonstrated the highest performance among all, with a removal efficiency of 90.05% at 150 min. Surface adsorption succeeded by intra-particle diffusion seems to describe an adsorption process with an initial rapid phase followed by a slow phase. In most cases, lower initial Cr3+ concentrations provided higher removal efficiencies since there were more adsorption sites available. The role of adsorbent dose was different in various nanocomposites. For example, CS/TiO2-Ag/g-C3N4 showed an optimum adsorbent dose at 100% of the standard. The present study identifies a complex interplay between the composition of nanocomposites, the contaminant concentration, and the adsorption kinetics in determining the overall efficiency of removal. These multi-functional hybrid nanocomposites may prove to be potential materials for effective heavy metal removal in water treatment applications
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