Removal of Cu(II), Pb(II) and Cr(VI) ions from aqueous solution using amidoximated non-woven polyethylene-g-acrylonitrile fabric.

Pre-irradiation method was applied to graft acrylonitrile (AN) onto non-woven polyethylene film. Graft yield reached 130% at 70 kGy radiation dose, 60% monomer concentration and 4 h reaction time when H2SO4 was used as an additive. The modification of AN grafted films with hydroxyl amine hydrochloride was done for the preparation of amidoxime adsorbent. The constructed adsorbent was characterized using FTIR, DMA and SEM. The amidoxime adsorbent was used for adsorption of Cu(II), Pb(II) and Cr(VI). Adsorption capacity was investigated under different conditions: contact time, pH and initial metal ion concentration. The optimum condition for maximum adsorption was found to be contact time 72 h and initial metal concentration 500 ppm for all the metal ions studied and pH 5.2 for Cu(II), 5.4 for Pb(II), 1.5 for Cr(VI). Kinetic adsorption data was elucidated using pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-order equations. The equilibrium experimental data of metal adsorption matched Langmuir isotherm model. From the Langmuir equation, the monolayer saturation adsorption capacity (highest adsorption capacity) of the adsorbent was found to be 74.62 mg/g for Cu(II), 107 mg/g for Pb(II) and 156.25 mg/g for Cr(VI). The thermodynamics of metal adsorption was also investigated. Furthermore, desorption and reuse of the adsorbent film was studied. The results suggest that the adsorbent can be effective for adsorption of Cu(II), Pb(II) and Cr(VI).