Chestnut shell nano-adsorbent : Potential bioadsorbent for the removal of heavy metals from industrial wastewater

K. R. G. College, Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, India I. P. S. College of Pharmacy, Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, India School of Studies in Environmental Chemistry, Jiwaji University, Gwalior-474 010, Madhya Pradesh, India E-mail : nimisha09@yahoo.com Manuscript received online 21 November 2015, accepted 14 December 2015 In this study chestnut shell was used as a potential adsorbent for the removal of heavy metals viz. lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn) from waste water. The characterization of the prepared adsorbent was done by IR spectral, SEM and BET analysis. The rate of adsorption was studied under different conditions, including pH (2–8), adsorbate dose (0.5–2 g), contact time (15–60 min) and the initial concentration of metal ions (25–100 mg/L). Maximum removal of Pb and Zn was attained at 1.5 g with 98.7% and 91% at 0.5 g at 60 min respectively. The adsorption data were well studied for adsorption isotherms and kinetic models and followed the second order kinetics and best fitted to Langmuir and Frendulich adsorption isotherm