Efficient copper removal from wastewater through montmorillonite-supported hydrogel adsorbent

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Environmental Chemistry
• Polymer Science

Background:

• Industrial wastewater often contains toxic heavy metal ions like copper (II).
• Developing efficient and cost-effective adsorbents is crucial for environmental remediation.
• Hybrid hydrogels offer tunable properties for pollutant removal.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize and characterize a novel hybrid hydrogel adsorbent.
• To evaluate the adsorbent's efficiency in removing copper (II) ions from aqueous solutions.
• To determine the optimal conditions and adsorption capacity for copper removal.

Main Methods:

• In situ polymerization of acrylic acid monomer/wheat bran supported by montmorillonite.
• Adsorbent characterization using scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and X-ray powder diffraction.
• Batch adsorption experiments to study kinetics, isotherms, and optimal conditions.

Main Results:

• The hybrid hydrogel exhibited Fickian diffusion and followed Schott's second-order kinetic model for swelling.
• Optimal adsorption conditions identified: 100 mg/L Cu (II) initial concentration, pH 7.0, and 3.0 wt.% montmorillonite.
• Maximum adsorption capacity determined as 17.64 mg/g, with equilibrium reached in 2 hours.
• Adsorption data fitted well with the Langmuir isotherm model.

Conclusions:

• The synthesized montmorillonite-supported hydrogel is a promising adsorbent for copper removal.
• This material offers an efficient method for treating copper-contaminated industrial wastewater.
• The study highlights the potential of hybrid hydrogels in environmental applications.