Synthesis, characterization and heavy metal removal efficiency of β- cyclodextrinethylamine inclusion complex

Abstract

Environmental contamination with heavy metals is one of the main concerns on a global scale and the risk related to heavy metal exposure in water as a serious threat to human health. Removal of heavy metal contaminants from water can be done in many ways using conventional and membrane techniques. This study synthesized, characterized and investigated the removal efficiency of inclusion complex of β – cyclodextrinethylamine in the removal of some heavy metals in contaminated water samples obtained from Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria. β– cyclodextrinethylamine metal complex was prepared and characterized by Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), Differential Thermal Analysis (DTA) and Fourier Transformed Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) while the heavy metal concentrations for the removal efficiency was determined using Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS). The results indicated that the removal of heavy metals was efficient in the study areas with the highest average percentage removal efficiency and a trend of Cu = Co (99.85 %) > Zn (99.80 %) > Ni (99.75 %) > Cd (99.1 %) obtained in Tse – Chivir sample area while the efficiency of heavy metal removal obtained from Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, Makurdi (JOSTUM) showed the order of Ni = Co(99.8 %) > Zn = Cu > Cd (99.5 %). Indicating that the inclusion compound can be used for effective removal of heavy metals in contaminated solutions and purification processes in water treatment.