Binary adsorption of [Pb(II) + Co(II)] from aqueous solution using thiolated saw dust

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Water Treatment
• Materials Science

Background:

• Industrial activities release toxic heavy metals into water resources, exceeding safe limits.
• Heavy metals like lead (II) and cobalt (II) are carcinogenic and often found together in aquatic environments.
• Effective and economical methods are needed for heavy metal remediation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the uptake of lead (II) ions by chemically modified sawdust.
• To evaluate the effect of cobalt (II) ions on lead (II) adsorption.
• To explore the potential for simultaneous removal of lead (II) and cobalt (II) using a low-cost adsorbent.

Main Methods:

• Sawdust was chemically modified with thioglycolic acid and characterized.
• Batch experiments were conducted to study lead (II) uptake under varying conditions (concentration, time, pH, temperature).
• Competitive adsorption experiments with lead (II) and cobalt (II) mixtures were analyzed using the Langmuir isotherm model.

Main Results:

• Thiolated sawdust demonstrated efficient uptake of lead (II) ions.
• Cobalt (II) ions significantly suppressed the adsorption of lead (II) ions, showing an antagonistic effect.
• The Langmuir competitive isotherm model effectively described the interaction between lead (II) and cobalt (II) during adsorption.

Conclusions:

• Chemically modified sawdust is a promising low-cost bioadsorbent for removing lead (II) from water.
• The antagonistic interaction between lead (II) and cobalt (II) needs consideration for optimizing removal processes.
• Simultaneous removal of both heavy metals is feasible, offering an economical solution for industrial wastewater treatment.