Biosorption of Nickel (II) from aqueous solution onto activated carbon prepared from chicken feather

Abstract

Industrial waste water is a potential threat to human health mainly because of the presence of non-biodegradable, hazardous heavy metals. This research focuses on the use of Activated Carbon from Chicken Feathers (ACCF) in the removal of Ni (II) ions from aqueous solution. Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) analysis was carried out on ACCF to reveal the functional groups present which will aid adsorption. The optimization of factors such as initial metal ion concentration, pH, and contact time were investigated at ambient temperature. The optimum pH, initial metal ion concentration and contact time were therefore determined. The experimental data obtained for Ni 2+ sorption were treated using pseudo first order and second order kinetic models. The adsorption behavior was found to follow pseudo second order kinetics. This study demonstrates the effectiveness of ACCF in the removal of Ni (II) ion from aqueous solution. Ion exchange, chemical precipitation, adsorption, etc are amongst the various methods that exist for the removal of toxic metal ions from aqueous solutions (Sari and Tuzen, 2009). As a result of its capability of removing a wide range of adsorbates, low cost of operation and capability of removing trace level of toxic metals from waste water, adsorption onto activated carbon is by far the most versatile and extensively used process (Vimala and Das, 2009; Nwabanne and Igbokwe, 2008). Heavy metals tend to accumulate in living organisms due to their non-biodegradable nature, thus causing several diseases and body malfunctions (Gupta and Rastogi, 2009). Biosorption is a process that utilizes biological materials in order to remove heavy metals from solution via adsorption. The mechanism responsible for biosorption may be one or a combination of complexation, coordination, adsorption, ion exchange, chelation, micro precipitation and electrostatic interaction (Wang and Chen, 2006). In the present research work, Activated Carbon from Chicken Feather (ACCF) as biosorbent to remove Ni (II) ion from aqueous solution and kinetics of adsorption were studied. MATERIALS AND METHODS Collection of chicken feathers: Chicken feathers were obtained from several poultry processing facilities across Zaria metropolis in Kaduna state, Nigeria. They were stored in a clean polyethene bag before analysis was carried out. Preparation of biosorbent (chicken feather): In order to remove some of the materials attached to the feathers, the feathers were washed severally with distilled water and detergent. It was later left in the open air for several days to get rid of odors. Preparation of activated carbon from chicken feathers: The chicken feathers were first carbonized inside steel cups with a small hole inserted on the lids for venting gases produced during the carbonization process using a muffle furnace set at 400 0 C. This temperature was maintained for 1 hour, then left to cool to ambient temperature. The carbonized feathers were then impregnated with H3PO4 in 1:1 weight ratio and activation was then carried out using a tubular furnace set at 500 0 C, which was maintained for an hour. Reagents: All chemicals, supplied by Merck Company, were of high analytical grade and stock solution of Ni (II) was prepared by dissolving appropriate amounts of Nickel chloride hexahydrate (NiCl2.6H2O) in deionized water and then the desired concentrations were provided by diluting the stock solution. Stock solutions of nitric acid and NaOH 0.1N were also prepared.