Desorption of chromium (VI) and lead (II) ions and regeneration of the exhausted adsorbent

Abstract

The desorption characteristics of previously adsorbed hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)] and divalent lead [Pb(II)] ions on groundnut husk were tested by various desorption eluents such as tap water, de-ionized water, NaOH, HCl and H2SO4. Among them, HCl and H2SO4 were chosen as the best desorbing agents for Cr(VI) and Pb(II) ions, respectively, due to their high desorption efficiency. The desorption efficiency of HCl and H2SO4 for Cr(VI) and Pb(II) ions was about 76.1% and 82.1%, respectively, at a concentration of 0.1 M for both elution agents. The exhausted groundnut husk was regenerated up to five cycles, and the removal efficiency of Cr(VI) and Pb(II) ions on the recycled groundnut husk could be maintained at 53.5% and 54.6%, respectively, in the third cycle. The successive regeneration cycles resulted in the reduction of the desorption efficiency by 20.0% and 26.7% for Cr(VI) and Pb(II) ions, respectively, after the third cycle. The results show that groundnut husk could be recycled when used to remove Cr(VI) and Pb(II) ions from Cr(VI) and Pb(II)-polluted water and wastewaters.