Kinetic Study of Nano Alumina on Absorption of Lead Ions in Aqueous Solution

Abstract

The levels of lead (Pb) continue to rise in rivers and seawater. In many parts of the world, heavy metals such as lead in drinking water are found to have severe effects on human health. Thus, identifying effective and reliable methods for reducing these levels is crucial. This research explored the potential of using activated alumina as an adsorbent to reduce lead (Pb) ions from water. Powder activated alumina was produced from aluminum, with the precursor further processed into activated alumina. A design of experiments (DOE) using response surface methodology was employed to study the influence of pH, NaOH, HCl, DI (H2O), and Al (powder) on the quality and yield of activated alumina. The trend indicated that a higher amount of aluminum resulted in better adsorption performance. The micro-pore volume and cumulative pore volumes for the activated alumina were 0.000756 cm³/g, 0.002050 cm³/g, and 0.001976 cm³/g, respectively. Kinetic studies were conducted to observe the reduction of heavy metal concentrations over time using activated alumina. The kinetics further confirmed that 95% of the lead was removed within the first 25 minutes of the experiment. The removal rate was rapid during the initial phase until equilibrium was reached at 25 minutes. Temperature, pH, and concentration were significant parameters, with lead ion removal increasing as the temperature rose to 60°C. The experimental results were in strong agreement with the Langmuir pseudo-second-order equation. This removal method using activated alumina is cost-effective, environmentally friendly, and holds significant potential for heavy metal removal from water. Therefore, this research demonstrated activated alumina as a promising adsorbent material for the removal of heavy metals from drinking water, contributing to the development of an economical product that can be applied to a wider community, aiding in national income and promoting access to clean drinking water.

Keywords: Nano Alumina; Lead Ions; Absorption;  Kinetics; Aqueous Solution, Heavy Metal Removal.

Received Date: August 19, 2024                  Accepted Date: September 11, 2024            

Published Date: October 14, 2024

Available Online at: https://www.ijsrisjournal.com/index.php/ojsfiles/article/view/187

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.13941446