Removal of hexavalent chromium from water using polyaniline/ wood sawdust/ poly ethylene glycol composite: An experimental study

Abstract

Polyaniline/ Sawdust /Poly Ethylene Glycol/ (PANi/SD/PEG) composite synthesized chemically is used as an adsorbent to remove hexavalent chromium from water. Adsorption experiments have been done in batch and continuous (column) mode. Some parameter such as pH, contact time, PANi/SD/PEG dose, isotherms in batch mode and pH, column bed depth and fluid flow rate in column mode were investigated. Result shows that PANi/SD/PEG has a good performance to remove hexavalent chromium ion from aqueous media. By presence of PEG, prepared composite has been homogenized and further absorption has been occurred. The best adsorption occurs under pH 2 and optimum contact time for removal of hexavalent chromium ion in batch experiment was about 30 min. Adsorption of Cr (VI) by PANi/SD/PEG fitted well in Langmuir isotherms. Maximum adsorption of hexavalent chromium was calculated 3.2 (mg/g). In column experiments, pH and column bed depth were found to be more prominent than fluid flow rate. Though, about 22% of Cr (VI) can be recovered using 0.1 M NaOH in the batch system, the recovered Cr (VI) in column system was less than 7.9%.