Preparation and characterization of a novel nanocomposite of clinoptilolite/maghemite/chitosan/urea for manganese removal from aqueous solution

Synthesis of a new magnetic nanocomposite of Clinoptilolite/Maghemite/Chitosan/Urea has been carried out to introduce an adsorbent to remove manganese as a toxic heavy metal from aqueous solution. Clinoptilolite zeolite became magnetic using the maghemite nanoparticles, then coated using chitosan as a biodegradable and non-toxic polymer, and finally functionalized by urea to increase the adsorption capacity. For characterization of the nanocomposite, the X-Ray diffraction, IR spectroscopy, vibrating sample magnetometery, and scanning electron microscopy were used. The effects of temperature, contact time, initial metal concentration, solution pH and adsorbent dose on the manganese removal capacity were evaluated. The kinetics of adsorption by the pseudo-first-order, pseudo-second-order, and Elovich kinetic models was studied and the results suggested the compliance of pseudo-second-order kinetic model with the kinetic data. The maximum adsorption capacity of manganese under the optimum condition of pH=2.13, the adsorbent amount of 0.02 g, initial solution concentration of 46.00 mg/L with response surface methodology, equaled 16.30 mg/g. The Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin and Dobinin-Rudoshkovich adsorption isotherm models were investigated and Langmuir best fit the isotherm data. In the study of the thermodynamic results, negative Gibbs free energy represents the spontaneous nature of manganese removal process.