Evaluation of the Removal of Heavy Metals (Cadmium Lead, and Zinc) from Aqueous Solutions using Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes Modified with Chitosan

Discharge of toxic metals such as cadmium (Cu), lead (Pb), and zinc (Zn) in the environment can impact the quality of air and water. High concentration of these toxic metals larger than the regulated concentration in the air and water can pose serious human health risks. The aim of this research was to investigate the removal of these heavy metals (Cd, Pb and Zn) from aqueous solutions by using a multi walled carbon nanotubes modified by chitosan as an absorbent agent. To perform the experimental study, nitrate salt of heavy metals solution prepared with distilled water was used. Factors examined for the removal efficiency of heavy metals in this study include pH, absorbent dose concentration, retention time, and the initial concentration of heavy metals. All analytical analyses were performed according to standard methods. Also, the infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) used for identification and modification of the absorbent. The results obtained from this study showed that an increase in pH, retention time and initial concentration of heavy metals, also increased the adsorption efficiency rate. The optimum heavy metals removal efficiency was about 75% and that occurred when pH =7, retention time =120 minutes and the initial concentration of heavy metals =20 mg/L. In addition, plot of Langmuir and Freundlich adsorption isotherms for heavy metals showed that the adsorption process mostly follows the Freundlich isotherm. The limited data obtained from this experimental sudy, it can be concluded that using carbon nanotubes modified with chitosan as an absorbant agent is an effective method for the removal of heavy metals (Cd, Pb, and Zn) from aqueous solutions.