Lead (II) adsorption from aqueous solution by chitin treated with non-themal plasma (cold plasma)

Abstract

Chitin (C₈H₁₃O₅N)_n, a long-chain polymer of N-acetylglucosamine, is a derivative of glucose. It is a primary component of cell walls in fungi, the exoskeletons of arthropods , such as crustaceans (e.g., shrimps and crabs) and insects, the radulae of molluscs, cephalopod beaks, and the scales of fishes...In this study, chitin prepared from shell of shrimp that was treated with the non-thermal plasma (T-Ch) and used for study of the lead (II) adsorption from aqueous solution. The optimum conditions for the adsorption of lead (II) ions were found to be pH 6.0, and 100 min of contact time. It was also found that the experimental data of lead (II) ion adsorption onto T-Ch were in reliable consistence with the pseudo-second-order kinetic model and the adsorption rate of lead (II) ions was controlled by intraparticle and boundary layer diffusion. For adsorption isotherm study, the Freundlich isotherm model was found to be best model for description of the adsorption process. From results obtained, it could be concluded that the cold plasma technology can be used for modification of the chitin surface to effectively increase the Pb(II) adsorption from aqueous solution.