Adsorption study of Pb(II), Cd(II), Cu(II) and Cr(III) ions in aqueous medium using C-4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenylcalix[4] resorcinarene dodecaacetate

Abstract

This research work presented the application of C-4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenylcalix[4] resorcinarenedodecaacetate in the removal of Pb(II), Cd(II), Cu(II) and Cr(III) in aqueous medium. Various adsorption parameter such as pH, adsorbent dose and interaction time were investigated. In addition, the kinetic study was conducted by using Santosa's first order, Lagergren's pseudo-first order and Ho's pseudo-second order models. The results showed that the optimum pH for the sorption of Pb(II) and Cu(II) was 4 and that for Cd(II) and Cr(III) was 5. The optimum adsorbent dosage was 0.0175 g for all the metal ions. While the adsorption kinetic for Cd(II), Cu(II) and Cr(III) was relatively fast, the adsorption of Pb(II) occurred in slower rate. Therefore, the kinetic study be solely performed for the adsorption of Pb(II). The adsorption of Pb(II) followed the pseudo-second order of Ho with the equilibrium adsorption capacity and rate constant of 0.3936 mg/g and 0.0865 g/mg.min. respectively. From this study, C-4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenylcalix[4]resorcinarenedodecaacetate was expected to become an alternative adsorbent in the removal of heavy metals.