Utilization of low-cost sugarcane waste for the adsorption of aqueous Pb(II): Kinetics and isotherm studies

Abstract

In this study, the sorption capacity of local sugarcane waste (SW) for aqueous Pb(II) was investigated. The SW was fully characterized using Scanning microscopy (SEM), Energy-dispersive X-ray Analysis (EDX), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) area measurements. The uptake efficiency of SW was assessed via the batch mode. Also, the effect of several process variables on the Pb(II) uptake efficiency was elucidated. The Freundlich (R2 ​= ​0.991; ARE ​= ​0.340) and pseudo-second-order (R2 ​= ​0.999; ARE ​= ​0.056) model, respectively merged as the best fit models for equilibrium and kinetic studies. The maximum adsorption capacity was found to be 132 ​mg ​g−1 (at pH 5 and 30 ​°C) from the Langmuir model. A very short equilibrium time of 10 ​min recorded in the study distinguishes SW as fast and efficient in aqueous Pb(II) uptake.

Keywords

• Sugarcane wastes
• Heavy metal
• Adsorption
• Kinetics
• Isotherm