VISVESVARAYA TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY, BELAGAVI

Ph.D. Progress Report I for the period July to December 2017

On
Optimization of batch adsorption and column studies on removal of heavy
metals from waste water using modified biopolymers as adsorbents

Submitted

Towards Partial Fulfillment for the Award of Degree of

DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY
IN
Chemical Engineering
By
Mahesha Kumar
[USN: 1SI17PGA06]

Under the guidance of

Research Centre
DEPARTMENT OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING
Siddaganga Institute of Technology, Tumkur - 572103
Work carried out:
1. Literature work started on the current topic.

Introduction:
Water pollution has become a major concern amongst all the pollution for the sustainability of
life. Contamination of soil, groundwater and surface water with toxic heavy metal ion is causing
[1, 2].
health related problems to both human being and marine life Heavy metal ions such as
copper, nickel, zinc, chromium, cadmium and lead which are dangerous pollutants are being
constantly discharged into the environment/water bodies by various industries such as surface
finishing industry, fertilizer, pesticide, metallurgy and leather industries etc. [3]. In order to reduce
concentration of these toxic metal ions in water bodies various methods like precipitation, ion
exchange, adsorption, membrane processes, electrolytic methods have been used which are quite
[4].
expensive in nature Among all the methods available to remove the heavy metals from the
waste water Adsorption technique is found to be less expensive and cost effective process. [5]
Biopolymers are industrially attractive because they are, capable of lowering transition metal ion
concentrations to sub-part per billion concentrations, widely available, and environmentally safe.
Another attractive feature of biopolymers is that they possess a number of different functional
groups, such as hydroxyls and amines, which increase the efficiency of metal ion uptake and the
maximum chemical loading possibility to which the metal ions can bind either by chemisorption
or by physisorption. New polysaccharide-based-materials were described as modified
biopolymer adsorbents (derived from chitin, chitosan, and starch) for the removal of heavy
[6].
metals from the wastewater Biopolymeric materials include cellulose, alginates, carrageenan,
lignins, proteins, chitosan and chitin derivatives. Among the biopolymers worked with for
adsorption of metal ions, chitin and the derivates of chitin have played significant role in their
capacity as adsorbent and complexing agent by virtue of their hydroxyl, acetate, amido and
amino groups. Research and development work on chitin and chitosan has reached a status of
[7-9].
intense activities in many parts of the world The materials can be regenerated and their
selectivity properties were better than cross linked chitosan without crown ether. The sorption
mechanism of polysaccharide-based-materials is different from those of other conventional
adsorbents. These mechanisms are complicated because they implicate the presence of different
interactions.
 [10]
Chitin has been reported to be the second most abundant natural polysaccharide in nature and
[11].
is commonly found in crab and shrimp shells containing 10-15% of chitin Chitin and chitosan
are of commercial interest due to their high percentage of nitrogen (7.21%) compared to
synthetically substituted cellulose (1.25%) [12]. As most of the present-day polymers are synthetic
materials, their biocompatibility and biodegradability are much more limited than those of
natural polymers such as cellulose, chitin, chitosan and their derivatives. However, these
[13-
naturally abundant materials also exhibit a limitation in their reactivity and process ability
14].
In this respect, chitin and chitosan are recommended as suitable functional materials, because
these natural polymers have excellent properties such as biocompatibility, biodegradability, non
toxicity, chelating properties, etc. Chitin consists mainly of β-(1→4)-2- acetamido- 2- deoxy-
glucopyranose units. It carries one acetamido group containing lone pair of electrons on nitrogen
and hydroxyl group per glucose ring, thus allowing excellent complexation capacity with metal
[15].
ions The blending of polymers, which results in preparation of new materials with improved
[16]
physico chemical and mechanical properties , has received considerable attention of
researchers in the past several decades. Hence, the mechanical properties of chitin blend can be
improved by blending with other natural [17] or synthetic polymers [18].
References:
[1] P. Lodeiro, J.L. Barriada, R. Herrero, M.E. Sastre de Vicente, The marine macroalga
Cystoseira baccata as biosorbent for cadmium(II) and lead(II) removal: kinetic and equilibrium
studies, Environ. Pollut. (Barking, Essex: 1987) 142 (2006) 264–273,
doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.env- pol.2005.10.001. 16360252.
[2] R.J.E. Martins, R. Pardo, R.A.R. Boaventura, Cadmium(II) and zinc(II) adsorption by the
aquatic moss fontinalis antipyretica: effect of temperature, pH and water hardness, Water Res. 38
(2004) 693–699, doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/ j.watres.2003.10.013. 14723939.
[3] J. Wang, C. Chen, Biosorbents for heavy metals removal and their future, Biotechnol. Adv.
27 (2009) 195–226, doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.biote- chadv.2008.11.002. 19103274.
[4] C. Namasivayam, K. Ranganathan, Removal of Pb(II), Cd(II) and Ni(II) and mixture of metal
ions by adsorption onto waste Fe(III)/Cr(III) hydroxide and fixed bed studies, Environ. Technol.
16 (1995) 851–860, doi:http://dx.doi.org/ 10.1080/09593331608616323.
[5] G. Crini, Recent developments in polysaccharide-based materials used as adsorbents in
wastewater treatment, Prog. Polym. Sci. 30 (2005) 38–70.
[6] Crini, G., 2005. Recent developments in polysaccharide-based materials used as adsorbents
in wastewater treatment. Prog. Polym. Sci. 30, 38–70
[7] Moinum Islam Sharif and Khandaker Mainuddin, Country case study on environmental
requirements for leather and footwear export from Bangladesh. Bangladesh centre for advanced
studies, 2003.
[8] Ng, J.C.Y., Cheung, W.H., and Mc. kay, G., Equilibrium studies of the sorption of Cu (II)
ions onto chitosan. J.Colloid Inter.Sci. 2002, 255. p. 64-74.
[9] Gundogan, R., Acemioglu, B., Alma, M.H.J., Copper (II) adsorption from aqueous solution
by herbaceous peat. Colloid interface Sci. 2004, p. 269-303.
[10] Gregorio C. Bio resource Technology, 2006, 97, pp.1061-1085.
[11]. Austin PR; Brine CJ. Chitin films and fiber, US Patent, 1977, 4,029,727.
[12]. Muzzarelli. R.A.A “Natural Chelating Polymers”, Pergamon Press, New York, 1973,
pp.83.
[13]. Illum, L. “Chitosan and its use as pharmaceutical excipient”, Pharmaceutical Research.
1998, 15, p. 1326.
[14]. Mass W.A., Mass A. and Tighe B. “A review of biodegradable polymers: uses, current
developments in the synthesis and characterization of biodegradable polyesters. Blends of
biodegradable polymers and recent advances in biodegradation studies”, Polymer International.
1998, Vol. 47, p. 89.
[15]. Lerivrey J; Dubois B; Decock P; Micera J; Kozlowski H Inorg.Chim.Acta 1986, 125, pp.
187-190.
[16] Folkes. M. J and Hope. P. S “In Polymer blends and alloys”, London: Chapman &Hall,
1985, pp. 430- 440.
[17] Binachi.E. Marsona. E , “Thermoreversible gels of chitin”, Carbohydrate Polymers, 1995,
32, pp. 23- 26.
[18] Lee. Y.M. Kim. S.H. Kim. S.J “Preparation and characteristics of β-chitin and poly (vinyl
alcohol) blend”, Polymer, 1996, 37 (26), pp. 5897.
Candidate Name Mahesha Kumar

Guide Name Dr. Jagadish H Patil

Co Guide Name Dr. S Murthyshekhar

USN ISI17PGA06

Research Area Waste water treatment

Research Centre Siddaganga Institute of technology, Tumkur

Course PhD Chemical Engineering

Registration Date 18 MAY 2017

“Optimization of batch adsorption and column studies on removal

Signature of the Candidate Signature of the Co Guide Signature of the Guide

Signature of the Head of the Research Centre Signature of the Doctoral Committee