Abstract:
Lead (Pb) is considered a highly toxic element to both human and environment. In this study, titanosilicate (TSi) compounds were synthesized and tested for removal of lead (Pb). The TSi sorbent was synthesized using sol-gel synthesis of titanium (IV)-isopropoxide (TiPO) and tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS) mixed together with sodium hydroxide at various conditions. The adsorbents were characterized for their morphology and phases using scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray diffractometer (XRD), and Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FTIR). The maximum Pb(II) adsorption capacities of the sorbents obtained are very high and in the range of 400-470 mg Pb /g sorbent. By analyzing the ratio of the released sodium ion from the sorbent to the ratio of the adsorbed Pb(II), the Pb(II) removal mechanisms are inferred to be mainly the ion-exchange. X-ray diffraction patterns show that synthesized sorbents have phases which varied from the amorphous to the crystalline states depending on synthesis condition. The sorbent in the amorphous state which prepared by the sol-gel synthesis followed by stirring at room temperature for 1h has the highest adsorption capacity. Further increase in hydrothermal time resulted in sorbent with crystalline structure, however, the sorption performance was reduced. The titanosilicate sorbents can be regenerated five times with the absorption capacity decreases 20-50%
Thammasat University. Thammasat University Library