Development of an expanded graphite/locust bean gum/chitosan composite for the adsorption of Lead ions from an...

Creating innovative adsorbents with better adsorption features represents a viable strategy to address the growing issue related to Pb²⁺ ions contamination. The present inquiry focuses on developing a variety of excellent durability adsorbents entitled locust bean gum/chitosan (LCs) composites, expanded graphite/chitosan (GCs), and expanded graphite/locust bean gum/chitosan composite (GLCs). The GLCs adsorbent is distinguished by its pore size of 2.53 nm, surface area of 382.8 m²/g, and pH_PZC of 7.4, as evidenced by several physicochemical approaches. The Langmuir isotherm and the PFO kinetic model provided the greatest match to the adsorption data out of all models examined. GLCs with a 1.0 g/L dose, agitated for 25 min at pH 4 and 20 °C, revealed an adsorption capability reaching a maximum of 445.70 mg/g. Thermodynamics investigation validated the endothermic and the spontaneity behavior of the adsorption mechanism. The removal efficiency of the fabricated GLCs decreased by only 2.0 % over five successive cycles in eliminating Pb²⁺ from aqueous solutions, demonstrating their remarkable stability and highlighting their potential as durable, high-performance alternatives for water purification.