Development and characterization of novel CS-ZnO-Alg polyelectrolyte complex for enhanced removal of Cd(II), Cu(II), and Ni(II) from simulated paint industrial wastewater

In this study, we developed and characterized a novel chitosan-alginate-based polyelectrolyte complex impregnated with zinc oxide nanoparticles (CS-ZnO-Alg PEC) for the enhanced removal of Cd(II), Cu(II), and Ni(II) from simulated paint industrial wastewater. The prepared PEC was characterized by X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Fourier-Transform Infrared (FTIR) Spectroscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy/Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (SEM/EDS), X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET), and Thermogravimetric analysis/Differential Thermal Analysis (TGA/DTA). The equilibrium data for said metal ions was best appropriated by Freundlich isotherm with maximum adsorption capacity of 217.72 mg/g for Cd(II), 130.41 mg/g Cu(II), and 159.06 mg/g for Ni(II), illustrating the multilayer adsorption of metal ions on the heterogeneous surface sites of the adsorbent. The kinetics of all three metal ions adsorption process onto discussed PEC was consistent with pseudo-second-order model. The thermodynamics results illustrate exothermic and spontaneous processes for Cd(II) (ΔH° = −3.57 KJ/mol, ΔS° = 0.009 KJ/mol*K, ΔG° = −6.42 to −6.61 KJ/mol) and Cu(II) (ΔH° = −3.32 KJ/mol, ΔS° = 0.006 KJ/mol*K, ΔG° = −5.25 to −5.37 KJ/mol), and spontaneous but less favorable adsorption for Ni(II) (ΔH° = −0.82 KJ/mol, ΔS° = −0.001 KJ/mol*K, ΔG° = −0.39 to −0.36 KJ/mol). Notably, the PEC could be easily recycled and regenerated, maintaining adsorption efficiency after five cycles. Overall, the CS-ZnO-Alg PEC, due to its amphoteric nature, high adsorption efficiency, cost-effectiveness, excellent recyclability, and biodegradability, could be a promising adsorbent for paint industrial wastewater.