Copper Ion Adsorption in Waste Water Using Silver Metal Nanocomposite from Avocado Pear Seed
Ofoma Echezona Okwuchukwu *
Department of Pure and Industrial Chemistry, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria.
Ekpunobi Uche Eunice
Department of Pure and Industrial Chemistry, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria.
Ekeoma Moses
Department of Chemistry, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike, Nigeria.
Okeke Abuchi Princewill
Department of Pure and Industrial Chemistry, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
This study investigates the adsorption potential of silver nanocomposite synthesized from avocado pear seed for the removal of copper (II) ions from aqueous solutions. The agro waste underwent treatment processes such as chemical, physical and hydrothermal synthesis giving rise to a nanocomposite with an enhanced surface area, structure and functional groups. In the investigation of the adsorption capacity of copper (II) ions, numerous factors were examined, including pH, concentration, dose, temperature, and contact time. Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS) was used to investigate the equilibrium kinetics and thermodynamics for the adsorption. The ability of copper ion uptake by the nanocomposite was examined under the characterization study of FTIR, SEM, and XRD. Langmuir and Freundlich adsorption models were employed to the experimental data and the goodness of their fit for adsorption was compared. It was determined that the Langmuir adsorption model provided a better fit compared to the Freundlich model.
Keywords: Adsorption, avocado peer seed (APS), copper, Silver metal nanocomposite(AgAPS)