Studies on the Binding of Lead and Zinc Ions by Modified Cellulosic Materials of Tropical Origin

Abstract

Cellulosic materials of tropical origin, seed husks of flamboyant tree (Delonix regia) and Prosopis (Prosopis africana) were modified with ethylenediamineteraacetic acid and treated with lead (II) and zinc (II) ions and the absorption behaviours were examined. The amount of metal ions removed from solution depended on the metal ion-substrate contact time, the metal ion concentration, the metal ion type and the substrate type. The amount of these ions absorbed varies with the cellulosic material and in the order Pb (II) > Zn (II). It is shown that the cellulosic materials could bind substantial amount of heavy metal ions and the amount of metal ions absorbed per gram of the cellulosic substrate increased with increasing initial metal ion concentration. In all cases, the rate of metal ion uptake by the prosopis husk was higher than that of the flamboyant husk.


Discovery and Innovation Vol. 13 no. 3/4 December (2001) pp. 119-122



KEY WORDS:

flamboyant husk, prosopis husk, absorption, lead, zinc, contact time