Removal of lead using chitosan beads

Water quality degradation due to the discharged of untreated wastewater from the industrial has brought adverse effects to the ecosystem and human health. It is due to its high heavy metals content as these heavy metals are non-biodegradable, biomagnification, accumulation and high persistence in the food chain and environment. Several technologies have been found to be suitable in reducing the heavy metals concentration in wastewater. This includes electrodialysis, electrochemical, ion exchange, chemical precipitation and adsorption. Among these technologies, adsorption found to be the most environmental friendly and cost efficient. In previous studies, chitosan beads are found to be a promising adsorbent in removing heavy metals from wastewater as it is biodegradable and biocompatible. The experiment on the adsorption of heavy metals using chitosan beads was done under a condition of 25 °C and 100 rpm with various parameters such as pH, dosage, contact time and initial concentration of metal ions. Experimental result shows that the adsorption of lead ions works best under pH 6, and contact time of 60 minutes. Desorption studies have also been conducted and it was found that it works best under condition of pH 2 and 60 minutes contact time. The adsorption isotherm of chitosan beads is analysed using both Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm model and the result shows that the chitosan beads adsorption isotherm is well-fitted to the Langmuir isotherm. The result obtained has indicates that chitosan beads as a potential adsorbent in removing heavy metal from aqueous solution.