Pre-concentration of cadmium soluble in water by carbon spheres synthesized using the oilothermal method

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Soil Science Dep, Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamedan, Iran

2 Associate Prof. Soil science, Faculty of Agriculture, Bu Ali Sina University. Hamadan

3 Soil Science Dep., Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamedan, Iran

10.22059/ijswr.2024.374697.669687

Abstract

The use of carbon adsorbents in solid phase extraction (SPE) of cadmium in very low concentrations has become very common due to its high efficiency and low price. In this research, carbon spheres (CSs) produced from sucrose were synthesized using the hot oil method and were used as carbon adsorbents in solid phase extraction of cadmium from aqueous solutions. Adsorption isotherm experiments in the concentration range of 5 to 10000 ppb cadmium, kinetics of adsorption in 10 to 140 seconds, pH-dependent adsorption in the range of pH 1 to 10 and the effect of ionic strength and competing cations on the efficiency of cadmium adsorption in concentrations after The field was carried out from 0 to 50 ppm. The efficiency of cadmium washing using HNO3 was done in the concentration and volume range of 0.1 to 0.5 (eqL-1) and 40 to 160 (μl), respectively. CSs had a specific surface area of 375/500 m2g-1 with a completely spherical and smooth shape. The data of isotherm and kinetics of Cd adsorption showed the best fit with Langmuir model and Elovich model, respectively. The maximum cadmium absorption capacity (qm) for CSs was equal to 7.367 mg g-1. Cd absorption efficiency reached the maximum absorption value at pH 10. CSs showed the highest resistance of cadmium absorption efficiency against potassium cation. A normal concentration of 0.5 HNO3 in a volume of 160 microliters was considered for washing Cd from CSs. Therefore, CSs can be a suitable carbon adsorbent for SPE Cadmium from water samples.

Keywords

Main Subjects

EXTENDED ABSTRACT

 

Background and objectives

Cadmium (Cd) is a carcinogenic metal that, even at very low levels, leads to cancer and cardiovascular diseases. The standard limit of Cd concentration in drinking water, as well as its concentration for short-term and long-term use of irrigation water based on the recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO), is in the range of 0.003, 0.05, and 0.01 mg/L, respectively. Therefore, to measure very low concentrations of cadmium in the samples, a pre-concentration step must be performed on the samples due to the low sensitivity of the devices. Solid phase extraction (SPE) is one of the most useful and common pre-concentration techniques. The use of carbon adsorbents in the solid phase extraction of cadmium is common due to their high efficiency and low price. In this research, carbon spheres (CSs) produced from sucrose were synthesized using the hot oil method and were used as an efficient carbon adsorbent in the solid-phase extraction of cadmium from aqueous solutions.

Materials and methods

Carbon spheres produced by the oilothermal method were evaluated in a cadmium-based model. The adsorption isotherm was performed in the initial concentration range of 5-10000 ppb cadmium (adjusted to pH 7) and time 120 seconds. Adsorption kinetics was performed with 2ppb cadmium solution in the time range of 10-140 seconds. pH-dependent adsorption was performed with 2 ppb cadmium solution in the pH range of 1 to 10. In order to investigate the effect of ionic strength (I) and competing cations (Na, K, Ca, Mg, Cu, Zn, Pb, and Hg) on cadmium adsorption efficiency, adsorption analysis was performed with 2 ppb cadmium solution (adjusted to pH 7) along with competing cations with background concentrations from 0 to 50 ppm. Cadmium washing efficiency was tested using HNO3 in the concentration and volume range of 0.1 to 0.5 (eq L-1) and 40 to 160 (μL) with a contact time of 120 seconds.

Results

The CSs had a smooth, uniform surface and a completely spherical shape, with a specific surface area of 375.500 m2 g-1. The absorption efficiency of Cd by the CSs adsorbent reached 55.85% at pH 6 and the maximum absorption value (71.25%) at pH 10. The maximum absorption capacity estimated from the experimental data for the treatment of CSs was found to be 5.040 mg g-1. Additionally, as the contact time increased, the absorption of cadmium by the CSs adsorbent also increased, demonstrating fast absorption in less than 60 s due to the presence of sufficient absorption sites. Between 60 and 140 seconds, the absorption slope decreased due to the filling of the absorption sites. The Cd adsorption isotherm showed the best fit with the Langmuir model (R2 = 0.981) and the Dubinin-Radoshkevich model. The kinetic data showed the highest fit with the Elovich model (R2 = 0.995 %), followed by the pseudo-first and second order models with R2 values of 0.977 and 0.990%, respectively. The adsorption efficiency by the CSs adsorbent decreased from 86.80% to 65.15% with increasing Na concentration from 2 to 50 ppm. The largest decrease in cadmium absorption efficiency by the CSs adsorbent was observed with increasing concentrations of heavy metals such as lead, copper, zinc, and mercury. The highest eluent efficiency (99%) was achieved with a volume of 160 μl and a 0.5 eq L-1 HNO3.

Conclusion

In summary, this study has presented a carbon-based adsorbent based on CSs made from sucrose using the oilothermal method. The CSs have a smooth, uniform surface and a completely spherical shape. They had a specific surface area of 375.500 m2 g-1. The CSs showed the best performance in the Cd-based model uptake/recovery analysis. They exhibited the highest pH-dependent adsorption efficiency, the highest adsorption capacity, and the highest resistance to cadmium adsorption efficiency against ionic strength and competing cations, especially potassium. Therefore, CSs have the potential to be a carbon-based adsorbent for tracing Cd in water samples using SPE.

Author Contributions

All authors contributed equally to the conceptualization of the article and writing of the original and subsequent drafts.

Data Availability Statement

Data available on request from the authors.

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank all participants of the present study.

Ethical considerations

The authors avoided data fabrication, falsification, plagiarism, and misconduct.

Conflict of interest

The author declares no conflict of interest. 

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Iranian Journal of Soil and Water Research
Volume 55, Issue 10
December 2024
Pages 1743-1759

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