Heavy-metals separation from industrial effluent, natural water as well as from synthetic mixture using synthesized novel composite adsorbent

A new amorphous composite cation exchange material has been synthesized at pH 1.0 by sol–gel method. The experimental parameters such as mixing volume ratio, concentration and pH were established for the synthesis of the material. Exchange capacity of the composite material was determined for alkali and alkaline earth metals. The exchanger was characterized on the basis of FTIR, XRD, SEM, TGA and CHNO analysis. This composite material exhibits improved ion-exchange capacity, chemical and thermal stability. It can withstand up to 300 °C with 98% of initial ion-exchange capacity retained. The distribution coefficient studies of metal ions on the composite material were performed in non-ionic, cationic and anionic surfactants systems of varying concentrations. On the basis of distribution coefficient values, the material was found to be selective for Pb(II), Hg(II), Bi(III) and Zr(IV) ions. The limit of detection (LOD) and the limit of quantification (LOQ) for Pb(II) metal ion was found to be 0.85 and 2.85 μg L−1. Some analytically important, selective separations of metal ions have been successfully applied for the analysis of industrial effluent and natural water on the columns of this exchanger.