Isotherm, kinetic and thermodynamic studies of lead and copper uptake by H2SO4 modified chitosan

The kinetic and thermodynamic adsorption and adsorption isotherms of Pb(II) and Cu(II) ions onto H₂SO₄ modified chitosan were studied in a batch adsorption system. The experimental results were fitted using Freundlich, Langmuir and Dubinin–Radushkevich isotherms; the Langmuir isotherm showed the best conformity to the equilibrium data. The pseudo-first order, pseudo-second order and intraparticle diffusion kinetic models were employed to analyze the kinetic data. The adsorption behavior of Pb(II) and Cu(II) was best described by the pseudo-second order model. Thermodynamic parameters such as free energy change (ΔG°), enthalpy change (ΔH°) and entropy change (ΔS°) were determined; the adsorption process was found to be both spontaneous and exothermic. No physical damage to the adsorbents was observed after three cycles of adsorption/desorption using EDTA and HCl as eluents. The mechanistic pathway of the Pb(II) and Cu(II) uptake was examined by means of Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and Energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy. The equilibrium parameter (R_L) indicated that chitosan–H₂SO₄ was favorable for Pb(II) and Cu(II) adsorption.