Synthesis and Application of Chitosan Nanoparticles for Removal of Lead Ions from Aqueous Solutions

Biosorbents have become increasingly important for removal of heavy metal from water and wastewater due to their and biodegradability low costs. Chitosan is a hydrophilic and cationic polymer product of chitin deacetylation and used as an absorbent for removal of heavy metals. In the present study, the adsorption of Pb(II) metal ions from aqueous solution by chitosan nanoparticles was investigated. Nanoparticles are formed by reacting of the free amino groups of chitosan with carboxyl groups of maleic acid as crosslinking agent. Nanoparticles were characterized by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and fourier transform infrared spectrometry (FT-IR). The average size of the nanoparticles obtained was about 65-250 nm. Adsorption experiments were performed at room temperature in batch system. The effects of pH, concentration of metal ions and adsorbent dose were conducted. Optimization of adsorption was carried out by the initial solution pH ranged from 3 to 6, the initial metal ions concentration ranged from 10 to 100 mg/l and the adsorbent dose ranged from 1 to 7.5 g/l. Under these conditions, optimal values of initial pH solution, concentration of metal ions and adsorbent dose were found at 6, 100 mg/l and 2.5 g/l respectively. The maximum removal efficiently of 86% for Pb(II) in concentration of 10mg/l was achieved. The adsorption data fairly fitted to Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms. The maximum adsorption capacity of 25.8 mg/g based on Langmuir isotherm was obtained.