Development of nano-composite adsorbent for removal of heavy metals from industrial effluent and synthetic mixtures; its conducting behavior

A semi-crystalline stable composite cation exchange adsorbent for the treatment of heavy metal ions has been synthesized at pH 1.0 by sol–gel method which was characterized by FTIR, XRD, SEM, TGA and TEM analysis. Ion exchange capacity, pH titration, elution behavior and distribution studies were also carried out to determine the primary ion-exchange characteristics of the material. The material shows exchange capacity of 1.47 meq g− 1 (for Na+ ions). The composite material exhibits improved ion-exchange capacity, chemical and thermal stability. It can be used up to 200 °C with 88% retention of initial ion-exchange capacity. pH titration data reveal its bifunctional behavior. The distribution coefficient values (Kd) of metal ions have been determined in various solvent systems. On the basis of Kd values the material was selective for Ba(II), Hg(II), and Pb(II) ions. The limit of detection (LOD) and the limit of quantification (LOQ) for Pb(II) was found to be 0.97 and 2.93 μg L− 1, respectively. A number of important and analytically difficult quantitative separations of metal ions have been achieved using columns packed with this exchanger. The composite cation exchanger is applied for the treatment of sewage water and synthetic mixture successfully and can be used as a conducting material.

► The present work reports development of nanocomposite cation exchanger, analytical applications and it’s conducting behavior.
► This work claims superior physiochemical properties in terms of higher ion-exchange capacity (1.47 meq g– 1 for Na+).
► Its characterization has been done on the basis of FTIR, XRD, SEM and TEM studies.
► Besides ion exchanger it can be used as conducting material.