Preconcentration and determination of Cu (II) from aqueous samples using functionalized sawdust and comparison with synthetic functionalized sorbents

The efficiency of indigenous functionalized sorbent (sawdust functionalized with polyaniline) was compared with synthetic functionalized sorbents (Dowex functionalized with 8-hydroxyquinoline (Dowex-8HQ) and α-nitroso-β-naphthol (Dowex-αNβN)) for preconcentration and determination of Cu (II) from aqueous samples. The synthetic functionalized sorbents and indigenous functionalized sorbent were characterized using FTIR. Different parameters like pH, equilibration time and sample volume were investigated for maximum sorption of Cu (II). Isotherm studies showed that the sorption data fitted well into Langmuir isotherm for the sawdust functionalized with polyaniline. Freundlich isotherm was followed for Dowex-8HQ and Dowex-αNβN. Four types of kinetic equations were applied to the data, and it was observed that sorption of Cu (II) followed second-order kinetics. Thermodynamically, the sorption of Cu (II) on these three sorbents was found to be exothermic and spontaneous. For maximum recovery of Cu (II) from loaded sorbents, different parameters like shaking time, eluent type, concentration and volume were investigated, and 89% Cu (II) was recovered from loaded sawdust functionalized with polyaniline and Dowex-8HQ. The interference studies showed the selectivity of sawdust functionalized with polyaniline for Cu (II) in comparison to synthetic functionalized sorbents. Thus, Cu (II) can be easily removed from aqueous samples in the presence of foreign ions.     

Preconcentration and Determination of Pb (II) in Aqueous Samples using Functionalized Dowex 1X8

Synthetic resin Dowex 1X8 was functionalized with α-Nitroso β-Naphthol (Dowex-αNβN) and with 8-Hydroxy Quinoline (Dowex-8HQ) to form chelating resin. The resultant chelating resins were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The efficiency of these resins for the removal/preconcentration of Pb (II) from aqueous samples was evaluated. Optimum conditions of pH, time of equilibrium, and sample volume were investigated for maximum retention of Pb (II) from aqueous solutions. At optimum conditions, 100% adsorption was observed for the functionalized resins. Both Freundlich and Langmuir isotherms were applied to the adsorption data and it was observed that data fits well to Langmuir isotherm. Various parameters such as shaking time, type, and concentration of eluents were investigated for the recovery of Pb (II) from the chelating resins. For Dowex-αNβN and Dowex-8HQ, 100% recovery with a preconcentration factor of 100 was achieved with 0.5 and 2 M HCl, respectively. The selectivity and specificity of the functionalized resins was also evaluated by studying the effect of various foreign ions and the results have been compared with the unmodified Dowex.