Development of Titanium Dioxide Pillared Clay Adsorbent for Removal of Lead (II), Zinc (II), and Copper (II) ions from Aqueous Solution

The removal of heavy metals from an aqueous solution using titanium dioxide pillared clay was investigated in this study. The clay was beneficiated and Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), resolution scanning electron microscope (HRSEM) were used to describe its characteristics, among others. The synthesis of titanium dioxide was carried out with Parkia biglobossa plant extract. The functionality of the titanium dioxide beneficiated clay (TiO2-Bclay) was studied for metal ions adsorption from the aqueous solution. The effects of adsorbent dosage, temperature, contact time, and pH on Zn(II), Cu(II), and Pb(II) ion removal percentages from the aqueous solution were investigated. Equilibrium adsorption data were fitted into isotherms and kinetic models to test their consistency. Characterization results showed that the clay contains functional groups that can bind heavy metals and absorb other hazardous substances. The pillared TiO2 was rutile phase, porous; it was also quite high in alumina and silica. Up to 99.00% Zn(II), 92.51% Pb(II), and 88.27% Cu(II) ions were extracted at 30°C using 20 g/L adsorbent. The adsorption kinetics was best described by the pseudo-second-order model. The titanium dioxide pillared clay was found to be effective in these experiments and adjudged effective adsorbents, for heavy metals confiscation from industrial wastewater.