Silica/klucel nanocomposite as promising durable adsorbent for lead removal from industrial effluents.

The removal of heavy metals, such as lead, from industrial wastewater is imperative due to their detrimental effects on both human health and the environment. This study delves into investigating the feasibility of employing a novel adsorbent, specifically a silica/klucel nanocomposite, for effectively extract lead from industrial effluents. The synthesis of this nanocomposite involved a simple and cost-effective method, combining silica nanoparticles with klucel. XRD, FTIR, E-SEM, Raman, and N gas adsorption at - 196 °C tools were employed to prospect the formation of silica/klucel nanocomposite. Outstandingly, treating 50 ml of 50 mg/l of lead with 10 mg of adsorbent exhibited rapid removal, which reached a maximum (95%) at 60 min contact time. The resulting composite demonstrated remarkable adsorption capabilities, primarily attributed to two factors: the expansive surface area of silica nanoparticles 139.1 m/g and the porous structure provided by klucel. Through batch adsorption experiments, the nanocomposite's proficiency in removing lead ions from aqueous solutions became evident. The kinetics of the adsorption process were found to adhere closely to a pseudo-second-order model, hinting at chemical adsorption as the rate-determining step. Langmuir isotherm model revealed that lead ions tend to form a monolayer on the surface of the nanocomposite and the maximum adsorption capacity (q) was 63.938 mg/g. Additionally, the nanocomposite, exhibited notable stability and could be reused multiple times, where 65% removal efficiency was announced until the 7th cycle without significant degradation in performance. In summary, the silica/klucel nanocomposite emerges as a promising and eco-friendly adsorbent for removing lead from industrial effluents. Its efficient performance and sustainability offer a compelling solution to combat heavy metal contamination, thereby contributing to environmental preservation and human well-being.