Adsorption of Co(II) by a carboxylate-functionalized polyacrylamide grafted lignocellulosics

A new adsorbent (PGBS-COOH) having carboxylate functional group at the chain end was synthesized by graft copolymerization of acrylamide onto banana stalk, BS (Musa Paradisiaca) using ferrous ammonium sulphate/H2O2 redox initiator system. The efficiency of the adsorbent in the removal of cobalt [Co(II)] from water was investigated using batch adsorption technique. The adsorbent exhibits very high adsorption potential for Co(II) and under optimum conditions more than 99% removal was achieved. The maximum adsorption capacity was observed at the pH range 6.59.0. The equilibrium isotherm data were analysed using three isotherm models, Langmuir, Freundlich and Scatchard, to determine the best fit equation for the sorption of Co(II) on the PGBS-COOH. A comparative study with a commercial cation exchanger, Ceralite IRC-50, having carboxylate functional group showed that PGBS-COOH is 2.8 times more effective compared to Ceralite IRC-50 at 30degreesC. Synthetic nuclear power plant coolant water samples were also treated by the adsorbent to demonstrate its efficiency in removing Co(II) from water in the presence of other metal ions. Acid regeneration was tried for several cycles to recover the adsorbed metal ions and also to restore the sorbent to its original state. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.