Two fold modified chitosan for enhanced adsorption of hexavalent chromium from simulated wastewater and industrial effluents

• Ionic solid impregnated phosphated chitosan (ISPC) was synthesized.
• The material was characterized using FT-IR, TGA-DTA, XRD, SEM, BET and EDX.
• ISPC has been used for adsorption of Cr(VI) and working parameters were optimized.
• Adsorption capacity of ISPC towards Cr(VI) was found to be 266.67 mg/g.
• The material was subjected to column, regeneration and reusability studies.

Ionic solid (Ethylhexadecyldimethylammoniumbromide) impregnated phosphated chitosan (ISPC) was synthesized and applied for enhanced adsorption of hexavalent chromium from industrial effluent. The compound obtained was extensively characterized using instrumental techniques like FT-IR, TGA-DTA, XRD, SEM, BET and EDX. ISPC showed high adsorption capacity of 266.67 mg/g in accordance with Langmuir isotherm model at pH 3.0 due to the presence of multiple sites which contribute for ion pair and electrostatic interactions with Cr(VI) species. The sorption kinetics and thermodynamic studies revealed that adsorption of Cr(VI) followed pseudo-second-order kinetics with exothermic and spontaneous behaviour. Applicability of ISPC for higher sample volumes was discerned through column studies. The real chrome plating industry effluent was effectively treated with total chromium recovery of 94%. The used ISPC was regenerated simply by dilute ammonium hydroxide treatment and tested for ten adsorption-desorption cycles with marginal decrease in adsorption efficiency.