Abstract
Heavy metals in the environment cause adverse effects on living organisms. Agro-wastes have the potential to remove heavy metals from aqueous solutions. In this study, the orange peel cellulose (OPC) beads were utilized as adsorbents to remove metals from wastewater. The surface of the adsorbent was studied by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS). The concentrations of the metals before and after adsorption were measured using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The removal of the metal ions (i.e., Cr6+, Cd2+, and Pb2+) using the OPC was investigated by varying the pH, contact time, and adsorbent dosages parameters. The maximum removal efficiency obtained for the metal ions occurred at pHs 4-8. The use of the Langmuir isotherm and Freundlich isotherm models demonstrated the statistical significance of the heavy metal adsorption processes (R-2 > 0.96). At a neutral pH, the OPC adsorption order was Pb2+ > Cd2+ > Cr6+ with % removal values of 98.33, 93.91, and 33.50, respectively. The adsorption equilibrium for Cr6+ was reached after 36 h. For Cd2+ and Pb2+, equilibrium was reached after 8 and 12 h, respectively. The FT-IR and SEM-EDS confirmed the presence of many functional groups and elements on the adsorbent. The adsorption of heavy metals using the OPC is a low-cost, eco-friendly, and innovative method for the removal of metals in aquatic environments. The findings of this study will be highly significant for the public in the affected areas worldwide that have credible health concerns due to water contamination with heavy metals.