ADSORPTIVE REMOVAL OF CU²⁺, PB²⁺, AND CR⁶⁺ FROM PHARMACEUTICAL WASTEWATER USING GRAPHENE/RUTILE (TIO₂) NANOCOMPOSITES

Authors

  • John Tsado Mathew Department of Chemistry, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai, Niger State,
  • Inobeme Abel Department of Chemistry, Edo State University, Uzairue,
  • Elijah Yanda Shaba Department of Chemistry, Federal University of Technology, Minna,
  • Musah Monday Department of Chemistry, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai, Niger State,
  • Yakubu Azeh Department of Chemistry, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai, Niger State,
  • Hassana Abubakar Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai, Niger State,
  • Aliyu Ibn Adam Department of Chemistry, Federal University of Technology, Minna,
  • Muhammad Aishetu Ibrahim Department of Chemistry, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai, Niger State,
  • Hauwa Alfa Muhammad Department of Chemistry, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai, Niger State,
  • Ismail Haruna Department of Chemistry, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai, Niger State,
  • Umar Musa Tanko Department of Chemistry, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai, Niger State,
  • Aliyu Mohammed Sakpe Department of Basic Sciences, Niger State College of Agriculture, Mokwa,
  • Solomon Papa Yisa Pre-ND Sciences, Niger State College of Agriculture, Mokwa,
  • Ismaila Aliyu Oga Department of Chemistry, Federal University of Lafia, Nasarawa State,
  • Etsuyankpa Muhammad Bini Department of Chemistry, Federal University of Lafia, Nasarawa State,
  • Musa Safiyanu Tanko Department of Chemistry, Federal University of Lafia, Nasarawa State,
  • Amos Mamman Department of Chemistry, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai, Niger State,

Abstract

Demand for safe drinking water is becoming a challenging issue, having been greatly influenced by human activities and the growing world population. Nanotechnology offers a promising solution through the applications of nanomaterials. This research investigated the equilibrium adsorption mechanism and thermodynamics of the removal of Copper (Cu(II)), Lead (Pb(II)), and Chromium (Cr(VI)) from pharmaceutical wastewater onto the synthesized grapheme/TiO2  nanocomposites produced from Palm kernel shell and Titanium dioxide as a low-cost adsorbent. The synthesized grapheme/TiO2 nanocomposites were characterized using Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), Energy Dispersive X-rays (EDX), X-ray Diffraction, UV-Visible absorbance, and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) Spectrophotometry before adsorption of metal ions (Copper, Lead, and Chromium). The result of batch experiments indicates that 99%, 60 % and 20 % of  Cu(II), Pb(II), and Cr (VI) were removed using grapheme/TiO2 nanocomposites under the optimal conditions of contact time (25 min), temperature (40 oC), and adsorbent dosage(0.12 g). The adsorption kinetics showed that the adsorption of Cu(II), Pb(II), and Cr (VI)  from the pharmaceutical wastewater fits better into the pseudo-second order for all the heavy metals removed. The recyclability studies indicate that the grapheme/TiO2 nanocomposites were stable and maintained 75 % adsorption removal after four consecutive recyclability studies.  The findings from this research indicate that grapheme/TiO2  nanocomposites is a potential adsorbent that can be used to remove heavy metals from pharmaceutical wastewater and any other related industries.

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Published

2025-09-29

Issue

Vol. 20 No. 3 (2025)

Section

ARTICLES

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