Removal of Heavy Metal Ions from Wastewater with Poly-ε-Caprolactone-Reinforced Chitosan Composite
Manuel E. Martínez,
José René Rangel-Méndez,
Miquel Gimeno,
Alberto Tecante,
Gretchen T. Lapidus,
Keiko Shirai
Affiliations
Manuel E. Martínez
Laboratorio de Biopolímeros y Planta Piloto de Bioprocesos de Residuos Agroindustriales y de Alimentos, Unidad Iztapalapa, Departamento de Biotecnología, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, Av. Ferrocarril San Rafael Atlixco número 186, Colonia Leyes de Reforma 1a sección, Alcaldía de Iztapalapa, Mexico City 09310, Mexico
José René Rangel-Méndez
División de Ciencias Ambientales, Instituto Potosino de Investigación Científica y Tecnológica, A.C., Camino a la Presa San José No. 2055, San Luis Potosi 76210, Mexico
Miquel Gimeno
Departamento de Alimentos y Biotecnología, Facultad de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cd. Universitaria, Mexico City 04510, Mexico
Alberto Tecante
Departamento de Alimentos y Biotecnología, Facultad de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cd. Universitaria, Mexico City 04510, Mexico
Gretchen T. Lapidus
Unidad Iztapalapa, Departamento de Ingeniería de Procesos e Hidráulica, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, Avenida Ferrocarril San Rafael Atlixco número 186, Colonia Leyes de Reforma 1a Sección, Alcaldía de Iztapalapa, Mexico City 09310, Mexico
Keiko Shirai
Laboratorio de Biopolímeros y Planta Piloto de Bioprocesos de Residuos Agroindustriales y de Alimentos, Unidad Iztapalapa, Departamento de Biotecnología, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, Av. Ferrocarril San Rafael Atlixco número 186, Colonia Leyes de Reforma 1a sección, Alcaldía de Iztapalapa, Mexico City 09310, Mexico
Currently, the requirements for adsorbent materials are based on their environmentally friendly production and biodegradability. However, they are also related to the design of materials to sustain many cycles in pursuit of low cost and profitable devices for water treatments. In this regard, a chitosan reinforced with poly-ε-caprolactone thermoplastic composite was prepared and characterized by scanning electron microscopy; Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction analysis, mechanical properties, as well as erosion and swelling assays. The isotherm and kinetic data were fitted with Freundlich and pseudo-second-order models, respectively. The adsorption equilibrium capacities at pH 6 of Zn(II), Cu(II), Fe(II), and Al(III) were 165.59 ± 3.41 mg/g, 3.91 ± 0.02 mg/g, 10.72 ± 0.11 mg/g, and 1.99 ± 0.22 mg/g, respectively. The adsorbent material lost approximately 6% of the initial mass in the adsorption-desorption processes.
