Preparation and characterization of chitosan/Fe

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Environmental Chemistry
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Thorium (Th4+) contamination in aqueous solutions poses environmental and health risks.
• Effective and sustainable methods for thorium removal are crucial for water remediation.
• Chitosan-based nanocomposites offer promising properties for heavy metal adsorption.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize and characterize a novel chitosan/Fe2O3nano composite (Ch/Fe-Onc).
• To evaluate the Ch/Fe-Onc as an adsorbent for removing thorium (Th4+) ions from aqueous solutions.
• To optimize adsorption parameters using response surface methodology (RSM) and understand adsorption mechanisms.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis and characterization of Ch/Fe-Onc using XRD, BET, FTIR, and SEM.
• Optimization of Th4+ adsorption using RSM, varying pH, initial concentration, and contact time.
• Kinetic and isotherm studies using pseudo-second-order and Langmuir models, respectively.
• Thermodynamic analysis and regeneration studies.

Main Results:

• The Ch/Fe-Onc composite was successfully synthesized and characterized.
• Optimized conditions yielded a high adsorption capacity of 430 mg Th4+g-1, achieving 99% removal at 25 °C.
• Adsorption followed pseudo-second-order kinetics and Langmuir isotherm models.
• The adsorbent demonstrated excellent reusability with over 95% desorption using 0.1 M HNO3.

Conclusions:

• Ch/Fe-Onc is a highly efficient and regenerable adsorbent for thorium removal.
• The material shows potential for application in wastewater treatment and environmental remediation.
• The study provides a robust model for optimizing adsorption processes using RSM.