Removal of Pb2+, Cu2+, and Fe3+ from battery manufacture wastewater by chitosan produced from silkworm chrysalides as a low-cost adsorbent

In this work, it was investigated the best ChSC deacetylation time (DT) for the removal of Pb2+ and Cu2+ from battery manufacture wastewater. Bath experiments were used to determine the best adsorption conditions. The best DT for Cu2+ removal was 180 min (92% deacetylation) and for Pb2+ removal was 90 min (80% deacetylation). The maximum adsorption capacities of Pb-ChSC and Cu-ChCS were 0.4247 mmol g−1 and 1.5953 mmol g−1, respectively, for contact time of 24 h, pH 5.0, particle size from 300 to 425 μm, and temperature of 20 ± 0.1 °C. Metal adsorption onto ChSC was evaluated by Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms. An experimental column packed with ChCS was used to remove Fe3+, Cu2+, and Pb2+ from battery wastewater. Experimental column results were obtained by plotting C/C0 against time. Metal adsorption onto ChSC in column was higher at pH 5.0 than pH 3.0. The results of this work support the use of ChSC in battery wastewater treatment.