Evaluation of Effective Composite Biosorbents Based on Wood Sawdust and Natural Clay for Heavy Metals Removal from Water

Bentonitic clay and wood sawdust are natural materials widely available in nature at low cost with high heavy metals sorption properties that, in this work, were combined to achieve an effective composite biosorbent with high sorption properties and enhanced mechanical stability. Pine, aspen, and bi...

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Main Authors: Roberta Del Sole, Alena A. Fogel, Vladimir A. Somin, Giuseppe Vasapollo, Lucia Mergola
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2023-07-01
Series:Materials
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/16/15/5322
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author Roberta Del Sole
Alena A. Fogel
Vladimir A. Somin
Giuseppe Vasapollo
Lucia Mergola
author_facet Roberta Del Sole
Alena A. Fogel
Vladimir A. Somin
Giuseppe Vasapollo
Lucia Mergola
author_sort Roberta Del Sole
collection DOAJ
description Bentonitic clay and wood sawdust are natural materials widely available in nature at low cost with high heavy metals sorption properties that, in this work, were combined to achieve an effective composite biosorbent with high sorption properties and enhanced mechanical stability. Pine, aspen, and birch wood sawdust, as well as different bentonite clays and different sawdust modification methods (H<sub>3</sub>PO<sub>4</sub> or HCl) were used for preparing new composite biosorbents. A mixture of wood sawdust and bentonite in a ratio of 2:1 was used. All materials were characterized by using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and scanning electron microscope (SEM) methods and tested for Cu and Ni ions removal from water. The adsorption process for all composite biosorbents was well described from a pseudo-second order kinetic model (R<sup>2</sup> > 0.9999) with a very high initial adsorption rate of Cu and Ni ions and a maximum uptake recorded within 2 h. The results have shown that the adsorption capacity depends mainly on the kind of wood and the acid treatment of the wood that enhances the adsorption capacity. At a concentration of 50 mg/L, the biosorbent prepared using birch wood sawdust showed the worst performance, removing barely 30% of Cu and Ni ions, while aspen wood sawdust improved the adsorption of Cu (88.6%) and Ni (52.4%) ions. Finally, composite biosorbent with pine wood sawdust showed the best adsorption be haviour with an efficiency removal of 98.2 and 96.3% of Cu and Ni ions, respectively, making it a good candidate as an inexpensive and effective biosorbent for the removal of heavy metals.
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spelling doaj.art-186c6326facc4df4ae55f8b434b6c7ed2023-11-18T23:11:46ZengMDPI AGMaterials1996-19442023-07-011615532210.3390/ma16155322Evaluation of Effective Composite Biosorbents Based on Wood Sawdust and Natural Clay for Heavy Metals Removal from WaterRoberta Del Sole0Alena A. Fogel1Vladimir A. Somin2Giuseppe Vasapollo3Lucia Mergola4Department of Engineering for Innovation, University of Salento, via per Monteroni Km 1, 73100 Lecce, ItalyHumanitarian Institute, Higher School of Jurisprudence and Forensic Technical Expertise, Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, Politekhnicheskaya St., 29, 195251 Saint Petersburg, RussiaInstitute of Biotechnology, Food and Chemical Engineering, Polzunov Altai State Technical University, Lenina Avenue, 46, 656038 Barnaul, RussiaDepartment of Engineering for Innovation, University of Salento, via per Monteroni Km 1, 73100 Lecce, ItalyDepartment of Engineering for Innovation, University of Salento, via per Monteroni Km 1, 73100 Lecce, ItalyBentonitic clay and wood sawdust are natural materials widely available in nature at low cost with high heavy metals sorption properties that, in this work, were combined to achieve an effective composite biosorbent with high sorption properties and enhanced mechanical stability. Pine, aspen, and birch wood sawdust, as well as different bentonite clays and different sawdust modification methods (H<sub>3</sub>PO<sub>4</sub> or HCl) were used for preparing new composite biosorbents. A mixture of wood sawdust and bentonite in a ratio of 2:1 was used. All materials were characterized by using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and scanning electron microscope (SEM) methods and tested for Cu and Ni ions removal from water. The adsorption process for all composite biosorbents was well described from a pseudo-second order kinetic model (R<sup>2</sup> > 0.9999) with a very high initial adsorption rate of Cu and Ni ions and a maximum uptake recorded within 2 h. The results have shown that the adsorption capacity depends mainly on the kind of wood and the acid treatment of the wood that enhances the adsorption capacity. At a concentration of 50 mg/L, the biosorbent prepared using birch wood sawdust showed the worst performance, removing barely 30% of Cu and Ni ions, while aspen wood sawdust improved the adsorption of Cu (88.6%) and Ni (52.4%) ions. Finally, composite biosorbent with pine wood sawdust showed the best adsorption be haviour with an efficiency removal of 98.2 and 96.3% of Cu and Ni ions, respectively, making it a good candidate as an inexpensive and effective biosorbent for the removal of heavy metals.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/16/15/5322adsorptionbentonitic claywood sawdustcopper ions removalnickel ions removalkinetic study
spellingShingle Roberta Del Sole
Alena A. Fogel
Vladimir A. Somin
Giuseppe Vasapollo
Lucia Mergola
Evaluation of Effective Composite Biosorbents Based on Wood Sawdust and Natural Clay for Heavy Metals Removal from Water
Materials
adsorption
bentonitic clay
wood sawdust
copper ions removal
nickel ions removal
kinetic study
title Evaluation of Effective Composite Biosorbents Based on Wood Sawdust and Natural Clay for Heavy Metals Removal from Water
title_full Evaluation of Effective Composite Biosorbents Based on Wood Sawdust and Natural Clay for Heavy Metals Removal from Water
title_fullStr Evaluation of Effective Composite Biosorbents Based on Wood Sawdust and Natural Clay for Heavy Metals Removal from Water
title_full_unstemmed Evaluation of Effective Composite Biosorbents Based on Wood Sawdust and Natural Clay for Heavy Metals Removal from Water
title_short Evaluation of Effective Composite Biosorbents Based on Wood Sawdust and Natural Clay for Heavy Metals Removal from Water
title_sort evaluation of effective composite biosorbents based on wood sawdust and natural clay for heavy metals removal from water
topic adsorption
bentonitic clay
wood sawdust
copper ions removal
nickel ions removal
kinetic study
url https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/16/15/5322
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