The Removal of Cr(III) from Aqueous Solution Using Modified Wool

Mongolian sheep wool was modified by maleic anhydride at different temperatures to obtain new adsorbent for the removal of Cr(III). Adsorption of Cr(III) from aqueous solution onto the modified wool was investigated in batch system. In this work, the effect of various parameters such as pH, contact time, temperature and initial concentration on the adsorption capacity was determined by ICP-OES (Inductively Coupled Plasma-Optical Emission Spectrometry). Modified wool was characterized by SEM (scanning electron microscopy) and FT-IR (Fourier transform infrared spectrometer). The thermodynamic and kinetic studies were carried out and the results confirmed that the adsorption process was spontaneous in nature, thermodynamically favourable and endothermic. Kinetically, the adsorption process obeys the pseudo-second order model. The modified wool can be an effective adsorbent for the removal of Cr(III) from aqueous solution.