Modified alginate-chitosan-TiO2 composites for adsorptive removal of Ni (II) ions from aqueous medium

In this study, organo-funtionalization of sodium-alginate has been carried out using phenylsemicarbazide as modifier to graft N, O-donor atoms containing functional groups (amino-carbamate moieties) to offer novel support for TiO2 immobilization. Hybrid composite made of aminocarbamated alginate, carboxymethyl chitosan (CMC) and titanium oxide TiO2 (MCA-TiO2) was prepared for the promising adsorptive remediation of Ni(II). FTIR, SEM-EDX were employed to characterize MCA-TiO2. The optimization of TiO2 to modified alginate mass ratio was carried out and hydrogel beads with TiO2/MCA mass ratio of 10.0% (2MCA-TiO2) revealed highest sorption efficiency. The produced sorbents were adapted in the form of hydrogel beads for operation. Organic functionalization based on aminocarbamate (-O-CO-NHNH2) moieties on linear chains of alginate embedded additional chelating functional sites which enhanced sorption and selectivity. Batch mode experiments were conducted for optimization of pH and sorbent dose. Equilibrium sorption, kinetic and thermodynamic studies were performed to pattern the nature of sorption. Kinetic data was found in close agreement with pseudo-second order rate expression (PSORE). Isothermal equilibrium sorption data was well fitted with Langmuir adsorption model. Maximum sorption capacity was evaluated as 229 mg/g at 298 K and pH = 6.0.