Adsorption Efficiency of Pb(II) and Cu(II) by Polyurethane Foam with the Fillers of Activated Tofu Waste

Abstract

Abstract This research aims to develop a polyurethane foam (PUF) adsorbent with solid tofu waste (TW) filler. TW was activated using NaOH at concentrations ranging from 0.2 M to 0.6 M. The PUF was synthesized by combining polyol with isocyanate. The TW PUF adsorbent was employed for removing Pb(II) and Cu(II) from aqueous solutions. The results revealed that the adsorption efficiency of TW PUF-0.2 M for Pb(II) removal was 60.36%, while TW PUF-0.4 M and TW PUF-0.6 M showed the adsorption efficiencies of 63.26% and 61.39%, respectively. Similarly, the adsorption efficiency for Cu(II) removal was 62.45%, 65.93%, and 63.34% for TW PUF-0.2 M, TW PUF-0.4 M, and TW PUF-0.6 M, respectively. Despite the insignificance in the change of adsorption efficiency with NaOH concentration, the optimal activation concentration for TW was found to be 0.4 M. In conclusion, TW PUF adsorbent exhibits potential for adsorbing Pb(II) and Cu(II), and its production can contribute to minimizing the environmental impact of tofu waste.