Waste water treatment by removal of heavy metals using EDTA functionalized chitosan-graphene oxide nanocomposites

Abstract

This study focuses on the preparation of Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) functionalized magnetic chitosan (CS) graphene oxide (GO) nanocomposites (EDTA-MCS/GO) by biogenic method and its removal efficiency for heavy metals namely, Pb(ll) and As(III) from aqueous solutions. The synthesized nanocomposite was characterized by XRD, SEM, and FTIR analysis. The influence of various operating parameters, such as pH, metal ion concentration, and contact time on the removal of the metal ions, was investigated. The equilibrium data was evaluated by Langmuir, Freundlich and sips isotherms, while the heavy metal adsorption reaction kinetics was analyzed by Lagergren pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-order kinetic models. The adsorption–desorption studies conducted over 6 cycles illustrate the viability and repeated use of the adsorbent for the removal of Pb(ll)and As(lII) from aqueous solutions.