Surface improved agro-based material for the effective separation of toxic Ni(II) ions from aquatic environment.

In this present study, a novel and low cost surface improved material was prepared from the farm waste material (Borassus flabellifer male inflorescence) and its surface was enhanced by the sulphuric acid treatment to intensify the Ni(II) ions adsorption. The adsorption individualities such as availability of functional groups, essential elements and the exterior side and structural properties of the material were assessed by the FT-IR, EDX, SEM and XRD investigation. The impact of varied adsorption influencing parameters on Ni(II) ions adsorption was studied and optimized as pH - 6.0, biosorbent dosage - 1.5 g/L, contact time - 60 min and temperature - 303 K via batch adsorption examination. Modeling examinations were carried with varied adsorption isotherm (Langmuir, Freundlich, Fritz-Schlunder and Temkin) and kinetic models (Pseudo-first order, Pseudo-second order and Elovich kinetics). Thermodynamic studies were carried out at varied Ni(II) ions concentrations (25 mg/L - 150 mg/L) and temperatures (303 K-333 K) to explain the nature of Ni(II) ions adsorption on Borassus flabellifer male inflorescence. The prepared material has shown the most suitable Ni(II) ions adsorption results for the Langmuir isotherm (R = 0.9808) and Pseudo-first order kinetic models (R = 0.9735 for 25 mg/L). Thereby, the modeling study revealed that the prepared material has received the Ni(II) ions adsorption capacity (q) value of 20.31 mg/g and the Ni(II) ions adsorption was physisorption. Thermodynamic results demonstrated that the Ni(II) ions adsorption was immediate, exothermic and favorable at low temperature.