Rapid extraction of Cu(II) heavy metal from industrial waste water by using silver nanoparticles anchored with novel Schiff base

A new Schiff base named N-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxy benzylidine)-biphenyl-4-amine was synthesized from refluxing of equimolar quantity of vanillin and biphenyl-4-amine in alcoholic medium. Its composition, properties, and morphology were characterized by elemental analysis, FTIR (Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy), UV-vis (ultraviolet visible spectroscopy), nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and mass spectral studies. Then, silver nanoparticles were synthesized by chemical reduction method and characterized by scanning electron microscope, UV-vis, FTIR, and mass spectra. The silver nanoparticles are then trapped with Schiff base by suitable method. The metal ion was analyzed by atomic absorption spectroscopy. Sugarcane bagasse (SCB) was used as solid phase for the removal of heavy metal from industrial waste water. Activation of solid phase was done with the base and acid, respectively. The Ag nano@Schiff base was adsorbed on the SCB. The effects of several parameters that affect the adsorption of Cu(II) metal ion including initial metal ion concentration, contact time, Schiff base weight, and pH were analyzed.