Removal of Lead(II) from Aqueous Solution by Adsorption Using Zwitterionic Hybrid Copolymers

Abstract

Lead(II) pollution has become a severe environmental problem. It is confirmed that inorganic-organic hybrid materials can be effectively used to eliminate such heavy-metal pollution by adsorption. For such application, the adsorption properties of zwitterionic hybrid copolymers prepared from different reaction steps for removal of lead(II) ions are investigated, which primarily focus on two dominating factors i.e., pH value and initial solution concentration. Moreover, the adsorption isotherm model of these samples was calculated to evaluate the adsorption behaviours of lead(II) ions on these zwitterionic hybrid copolymers. It is found that the adsorption of lead(II) ions on these zwitterionic hybrid copolymers followed the Freundlich isotherm model, suggesting that lead(II) adsorption on these samples is heterogeneous surface rather than Langmuir monolayer adsorption. This finding is valuable in the separation and recovery of lead(II) ions from aqueous solution using zwitterionic hybrid copolymers.