Adsorption of Hexavalent Chromium by Eucalyptus camaldulensis bark/maghemite Nano Composite

Abstract

Abstract In the present study, Eucalyptus camaldulensis bark/maghemite composite (ECMC) was used for potential application as a low-cost adsorbent for the removal of Cr(VI) from aqueous solution. The structural characterization, morphology and elemental analysis of ECMC were performed by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy-Dispersive X-ray (EDX) and X-ray Diffraction (XRD). The effects of various independent parameters, contact time, initial Cr(VI) concentration, temperature, pH, and adsorption were investigated. It was found that the adsorption capacity of ECMC increases with increasing Cr(VI) concentration and temperature. The optimum pH was found to be 2 for the removal of Cr(VI) by ECMC. The adsorption capacity was found to be 70.1 mg/g with 0.1 g ECMC at pH 2 and 30 °C. Additionally, 10 and 50 mg/L Cr(VI) were removed from 100 mL aqueous solution by 0.1 g ECMC with 99 % and 93.46 % removal efficiencies, respectively. Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin, Dubinin-Radushkevich, Jovanovic, Smith, Koble Korringen, Vieth-Sladek and Sips Isotherm Models were applied to the experimental data to understand the adsorption mechanism better. The Freundlich Isotherm Model described the adsorption process better (R2 = 0.991) among the other isotherms studied.