Abstract
A ZnS nano-sorbent to remove copper(II) and lead(II) ions from aqueous solutions was prepared via a hydrothermal reaction and characterized by X-ray diffraction. The zinc sulfide nanoparticle size was determined to be 7.0 ± 0.22 nm. The effects of pH, light conditions, time, capacity, and interferences on the zinc sulfide ability to remove copper(II) and lead(II) ions from aqueous solutions were investigated. pH studies showed that pH 5 was the optimal value for zinc sulfide binding both copper(II) and lead(II) ions. Under ambient light, the binding of both ions occurred within the first 5 min. Binding capacities ranged from 116.2 to 243.9 mg/g for copper(II), 39.1 to 147.1 mg/g for lead(II) ions, and 36.1–79.4 mg/g for lead(II) ions in the dark over temperature range from 4 to 45 °C. The thermodynamic parameters showed that the binding process for both copper(II) and lead(II) ions was either spontaneous or close to equilibrium. Light conditions were also investigated in the context of cation interference and showed that the presence of hard cations had no effect on the binding of lead(II) ions. On the other hand, the presence of hard cations showed small decrease in the binding of copper(II) ions.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Ahmad A, Rafatullah M, Sulaiman O, Ibrahim MH, Chii YY, Siddique BM (2009) Removal of Cu(II) and Pb(II) ions from aqueous solutions by adsorption on sawdust of Meranti wood. Desalination 247:636–646. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.desal.2009.01.007
Al-Anber MA (2011) Thermodynamics approach in the adsorption of heavy metals, in: Thermodynamics - Interaction Studies - Solids, Liquids and Gases. InTech. https://doi.org/10.5772/21326
Alghamdi AA, Al-Odayni A-B, Saeed WS, Al-Kahtani A, Alharthi FA, Aouak T (2019) Efficient adsorption of lead (II) from aqueous phase solutions using polypyrrole-based activated carbon. Materials (Basel) 12:2020. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma12122020
Ammar N, Youssef AFA, Kenawy SH, Hamzawy EMA, El-Khateeb MA (2017) Wollastonite ceramic/CuO nano-composite for cadmium ions removal from waste water. Egypt J Chem 60:817–823
Anthemidis AN, Ioannou K-IG (2009) Recent developments in homogeneous and dispersive liquid–liquid extraction for inorganic elements determination: a review. Talanta 80:413–421. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.talanta.2009.09.005
Azzam AM, El-Wakeel ST, Mostafa BB, El-Shahat MF (2016) Removal of Pb, Cd, Cu and Ni from aqueous solution using nano scale zero valent iron particles. J Environ Chem Eng 4:2196–2206. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jece.2016.03.048
Barlokova D, Ilavsky J, Marton M, Kunstek M (2019) Removal of heavy metals in drinking water by iron-based sorption materials. IOP Conf Ser Earth Environ Sci 362, 012109. https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/362/1/012109
Ben-Ali S, Jaouali I, Souissi-Najar S, Ouederni A (2017) Characterization and adsorption capacity of raw pomegranate peel biosorbent for copper removal. J Clean Prod 142:3809–3821. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2016.10.081
Berry LG (1954) The crystal structure of covellite, CuS and klockmannite. CuSe Am Miner 39:504–509
Boparai HK, Joseph M, O’Carroll DM (2011) Kinetics and thermodynamics of cadmium ion removal by adsorption onto nano zerovalent iron particles. J Hazard Mater 186:458–465. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2010.11.029
Cantu Y, Remes A, Reyna A, Martinez D, Villarreal J, Ramos H, Trevino S, Tamez C, Martinez A, Eubanks T, Parsons JG (2014) Thermodynamics, kinetics, and activation energy studies of the sorption of chromium(III) and chromium(VI) to a Mn3O4 nanomaterial. Chem Eng J 254:374–383. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2014.05.110
Cantu J, Gonzalez DF, Cantu Y, Eubanks TM, Parsons JG (2018) Thermodynamic and kinetic study of the removal of Cu2+and Pb2+ions from aqueous solution using Fe7S8 nanomaterial. Microchem J. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.microc.2018.04.003
Cantu J, Valle J, Flores K, Gonzalez D, Valdes C, Lopez J, Padilla V, Alcoutlabi M, Parsons J (2019) Investigation into the thermodynamics and kinetics of the binding of Cu2+ and Pb2+ to TiS2 nanoparticles synthesized using a solvothermal process. J Environ Chem Eng. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jece.2019.103463
Castaldi P, Silvetti M, Garau G, Demurtas D, Deiana S (2015) Copper(II) and lead(II) removal from aqueous solution by water treatment residues. J Hazard Mater 283:140–147. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2014.09.019
Chen YH, Li FA (2010) Kinetic study on removal of copper(II) using goethite and hematite nano-photocatalysts. J Colloid Interface Sci 347:277–281. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcis.2010.03.050
Clever HL, Johnston FJ (1980) The solubility of some sparingly soluble lead salts: an evaluation of the solubility in water and aqueous electrolyte solution. J Phys Chem Ref Data 9:751–784
Ejtemaei M, Nguyen AV (2017) Characterisation of sphalerite and pyrite surfaces activated by copper sulphate. Miner Eng 100:223–232
Evans HT, Konnert JA (1976) Crystal structure refinement of covellite. Am Miner 61:996–1000
Farghali AA, Bahgat M, Enaiet Allah A, Khedr MH (2013) Adsorption of Pb(II) ions from aqueous solutions using copper oxide nanostructures. Beni-Suef Univ J Basic Appl Sci 2:61–71. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bjbas.2013.01.001
Fouladgar M, Beheshti M, Sabzyan H (2015) Single and binary adsorption of nickel and copper from aqueous solutions by γ-alumina nanoparticles: equilibrium and kinetic modeling. J Mol Liq 211:1060–1073. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molliq.2015.08.029
Fu F, Wang Q (2011) Removal of heavy metal ions from wastewaters: a review. J Environ Manage 92:407–418. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2010.11.011
Fujii S, Polprasert C, Tanaka S, Hong Lien NP, Qiu Y (2007) New POPs in the water environment: distribution, bioaccumulation and treatment of perfluorinated compounds – a review paper. J Water Supply Res Technol 56:313–326. https://doi.org/10.2166/aqua.2007.005
Gaetke LM, Chow CK (2003) Copper toxicity, oxidative stress, and antioxidant nutrients. Toxicology 189:147–163. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0300-483X(03)00159-8
Gao Z, Bandosz TJ, Zhao Z, Han M, Qiu J (2009) Investigation of factors affecting adsorption of transition metals on oxidized carbon nanotubes. J Hazard Mater 167:357–365. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2009.01.050
Georgopoulos PG, Wang SW, Georgopoulos IG, Yonone-Lioy MJ, Lioy PJ (2006) Assessment of human exposure to copper: a case study using the NHEXAS database. J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol 16:397–409. https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.jea.7500462
Harsha Vardhan K, Kumar PS, Panda RC (2020) Adsorption of copper ions from polluted water using biochar derived from waste renewable resources: static and dynamic analysis. Int J Environ Anal Chem. https://doi.org/10.1080/03067319.2020.1779245
Hoa TTQ, Vu LV, Canh TD, Long NN (2009) Preparation of ZnS nanoparticles by hydrothermal method. J Phys Conf Ser 187:012081. https://doi.org/10.1088/1742-6596/187/1/012081
Hua M, Zhang S, Pan B, Zhang W, Lv L, Zhang Q (2012) Heavy metal removal from water/wastewater by nanosized metal oxides: a review. J Hazard Mater 211–212:317–331. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2011.10.016
Huang Y, Xiao H, Chen S, Wang C (2009) Preparation and characterization of CuS hollow spheres. Ceram Int 35:905–907
Kaushal A, Singh S (2017) Adsorption phenomenon and its application in removal of lead from waste water: a review. Int J Hydrol. https://doi.org/10.15406/ijh.2017.01.00008
Kiflawi I, Mardix S, Steinberger IT (1969) New families of ZnS polytypes. Acta Crystallogr Sect B Struct Crystallogr Cryst Chem 25:1581–1586. https://doi.org/10.1107/S0567740869004353
Kovacova Z, Demcak S, Balintova M (2019) Removal of copper from water solutions by adsorption on spruce sawdust. Proceedings 16: 52. https://doi.org/10.3390/proceedings2019016052
Kumar KY, Muralidhara HB, Nayaka YA, Balasubramanyam J, Hanumanthappa H (2013) Hierarchically assembled mesoporous ZnO nanorods for the removal of lead and cadmium by using differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetric method. Powder Technol 239:208–216. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.powtec.2013.02.009
Lee M-E, Park JH, Chung JW, Lee C-Y, Kang S (2015) Removal of Pb and Cu ions from aqueous solution by Mn3O4-coated activated carbon. J Ind Eng Chem 21:470–475. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jiec.2014.03.006
Li Y, Gao L, Lu Z, Wang Y, Wang Y, Wan S (2020) Enhanced removal of heavy metals from water by hydrous ferric oxide-modified biochar. ACS Omega 5:28702–28711. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsomega.0c03893
Lide DR (1994) Handbook of chemistry and physics, 75th edn. CRC Press
Liu Y, Chen L, Li Y, Wang P, Dong Y (2016) Synthesis of magnetic polyaniline/graphene oxide composites and their application in the efficient removal of Cu(II) from aqueous solutions. J Environ Chem Eng 4:825–834. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jece.2015.12.023
Luo J, Fu K, Yu D, Hristovski KD, Westerhoff P, Crittenden JC (2021) Review of advances in engineering nanomaterial adsorbents for metal removal and recovery from water: synthesis and microstructure impacts. ACS ES&T Eng. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsestengg.0c00174
Luther S, Brogfeld N, Kim J, Parsons JG (2013) Study of the thermodynamics of chromium(III) and chromium(VI) binding to iron(II/III)oxide or magnetite or ferrite and magnanese(II) iron (III) oxide or jacobsite or manganese ferrite nanoparticles. J Colloid Interface Sci 400:97–103. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcis.2013.02.036
Ma Q, Wang Y, Kong J, Jia H (2016) Tunable synthesis, characterization and photocatalytic properties of various ZnS nanostructures. Ceram Int 42:2854–2860. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ceramint.2015.11.021
Mahdavi S, Jalali M, Afkhami A (2012) Removal of heavy metals from aqueous solutions using Fe3O4, ZnO, and CuO nanoparticles. J Nanoparticle Res 14:846. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11051-012-0846-0
Mahdavi S, Jalali M, Afkhami A (2013) Heavy metals removal from aqueous solutions using TiO2, MgO, and Al2O3 nanoparticles. Chem Eng Commun 200:448–470. https://doi.org/10.1080/00986445.2012.686939
Mahmood T, Saddique MT, Naeem A, Mustafa S, Zeb N, Shah KH, Waseem M (2011) Kinetic and thermodynamic study of Cd(II), Co(II) and Zn(II) adsorption from aqueous solution by NiO. Chem Eng J 171:935–940. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2011.04.043
Mardix S, Alexander E, Brafman O, Steinberger IT (1967) Polytype families in zinc sulphide crystals. Acta Crystallogr 22:808–812. https://doi.org/10.1107/S0365110X67001616
Mosayebi E, Azizian S (2016) Study of copper ion adsorption from aqueous solution with different nanostructured and microstructured zinc oxides and zinc hydroxide loaded on activated carbon cloth. J Mol Liq 214:384–389. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molliq.2015.11.036
Nadaroglu H, Kalkan E, Demir N (2010) Removal of copper from aqueous solution using red mud. Desalination 251:90–95. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.desal.2009.09.138
Needleman H (2004) Lead poisoning. Annu Rev Med 55:209–222. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.med.55.091902.103653
Oftedal I (1932) Die kristallstruktur des covellins (CuS). Zeitschrift Für Krist - Cryst Mater 83:9–25. https://doi.org/10.1524/zkri.1932.83.1.9
Qu J, Liu Y, Cheng L, Jiang Z, Zhang G, Deng F, Wang L, Han W, Zhang Y (2021) Green synthesis of hydrophilic activated carbon supported sulfide nZVI for enhanced Pb(II) scavenging from water: characterization, kinetics, isotherms and mechanisms. J Hazard Mater 403:123607
Rafiq Z, Nazir R, Shah MR, Ali S (2014) Utilization of magnesium and zinc oxide nano-adsorbents as potential materials for treatment of copper electroplating industry wastewater. J Environ Chem Eng 2:642–651. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jece.2013.11.004
Rajurkar NS, Gokarn AN, Dimya K (2011) Adsorption of chromium(III), nickel(II), and copper(II) from aqueous solution by activated alumina. Clean: Soil, Air, Water 39:767–773. https://doi.org/10.1002/clen.201000273
Rodríguez-Carvajal J (1993) Recent advances in magnetic structure determination by neutron powder diffraction. Phys B 192:55–69
Sadovnikov SI, Rempel AA (2009) Crystal structure of nanostructured PbS films at temperatures of 293–423 K. Phys Solid State 51:2375–2383. https://doi.org/10.1134/S1063783409110298
Salavati-Niasari M, Ghanbari D, Loghman-Estarki MR (2012) Star-shaped PbS nanocrystals prepared by hydrothermal process in the presence of thioglycolic acid. Polyhedron 35:149–153. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.poly.2012.01.010
Santucci RJ, Scully JR (2020) The pervasive threat of lead (Pb) in drinking water: unmasking and pursuing scientific factors that govern lead release. Proc Natl Acad Sci 117:23211–23218. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1913749117
Sarma GK, Sen Gupta S, Bhattacharyya KG (2019) Nanomaterials as versatile adsorbents for heavy metal ions in water: a review. Environ Sci Pollut Res 26:6245–6278. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-018-04093-y
Shahabuddin S, Tashakori C, Kamboh MA, Sotoudehnia Korrani Z, Saidur R, Rashidi Nodeh H, Bidhendi ME (2018) Kinetic and equilibrium adsorption of lead from water using magnetic metformin-substituted SBA-15. Environ Sci Water Res Technol 4:549–558. https://doi.org/10.1039/C7EW00552K
Shahin SA, Mossad M, Fouad M (2019) Evaluation of copper removal efficiency using water treatment sludge. Water Sci Eng 12:37–44. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wse.2019.04.001
Shahrashou M, Bakhtiari S (2021) The efficiency of activated carbon/magnetite nanoparticles composites in copper removal: Industrial waste recovery, green synthesis, characterization, and adsorption-desorption studies. Microporous Mesoporous Mater 311:110692
Sitko R, Turek E, Zawisza B, Malicka E, Talik E, Heimann J, Gagor A, Feist B, Wrzalik R (2013) Adsorption of divalent metal ions from aqueous solutions using graphene oxide. Dalt Trans 42:5682. https://doi.org/10.1039/c3dt33097d
Streat M, Hellgardt K, Newton NLR (2008) Hydrous ferric oxide as an adsorbent in water treatment. Process Saf Environ Prot 86:21–30. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psep.2007.10.009
Tahoon MA, Siddeeg SM, Salem Alsaiari N, Mnif W, Ben Rebah F (2020) Effective heavy metals removal from water using nanomaterials: a review. Processes 8:645. https://doi.org/10.3390/pr8060645
Tamez C, Hernandez R, Parsons JG (2016) Removal of Cu (II) and Pb (II) from aqueous solution using engineered iron oxide nanoparticles. Microchem J 125:97–104. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.microc.2015.10.028
Taylor AA, Tsuji JS, Garry MR, McArdle ME, Goodfellow WL, Adams WJ, Menzie CA (2020) Critical review of exposure and effects: implications for setting regulatory health criteria for ingested copper. Environ Manage 65:131–159. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-019-01234-y
Tong S, von Schirnding YE, Prapamontol T (2000) Environmental lead exposure: a public health problem of global dimensions. Bull World Health Organ 78:1068–1077. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0042-96862000000900003
Valle JP, Gonzalez B, Schulz J, Salinas D, Romero U, Gonzalez DF, Valdes C, Cantu JM, Eubanks TM, Parsons JG (2017) Sorption of Cr(III) and Cr(VI) to K2Mn4O9 nanomaterial a study of the effect of pH, time, temperature and interferences. Microchem J. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.microc.2017.04.021
Vamvakidis K, Kostitsi T-M, Makridis A, Dendrinou-Samara C (2020) Diverse surface chemistry of cobalt ferrite nanoparticles to optimize copper(II) removal from aqueous media. Materials 13:1537. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma13071537
Wang S, Soudi M, Li L, Zhu Z (2006) Coal ash conversion into effective adsorbents for removal of heavy metals and dyes from wastewater. J Hazard Mater 133:243–251. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2005.10.034
Wang SG, Gong WX, Liu XW, Yao YW, Gao BY, Yue QY (2007) Removal of lead(II) from aqueous solution by adsorption onto manganese oxide-coated carbon nanotubes. Sep Purif Technol 58:17–23. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seppur.2007.07.006
Wang M, Zhang Q, Hao W, Sun Z-X (2011) Surface stoichiometry of zinc sulfide and its effect on the adsorption behaviors of xanthate. Chem Cent J 5:73. https://doi.org/10.1186/1752-153X-5-73
Wang X, Huang H, Liang B, Liu Z, Chen D, Shen G (2013) ZnS nanostructures: synthesis, properties, and applications. Crit Rev Solid State Mater Sci 38:57–90. https://doi.org/10.1080/10408436.2012.736887
Wang H, Gao B, Wang S, Fang J, Xue Y, Yang K (2015a) Removal of Pb(II), Cu(II), and Cd(II) from aqueous solutions by biochar derived from KMnO4 treated hickory wood. Bioresour Technol 197:356–362. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2015.08.132
Wang X, Chen Z, Yang S (2015b) Application of graphene oxides for the removal of Pb(II) ions from aqueous solutions: experimental and DFT calculation. J Mol Liq 211:957–964. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molliq.2015.08.020
Wang R, Lin J, Huang S-H, Wang Q-Y, Hu Q, Peng S, Wu L-N, Zhou Q-H (2021) Disulfide cross-linked poly(methacrylic acid) iron oxide nanoparticles for efficiently selective adsorption of Pb(II) from aqueous solutions. ACS Omega 6:976–987
WHO (2003) Lead in drinking-water. Guidel Drink Qual. https://doi.org/10.1155/2013/959637
Wu W, Yang Y, Zhou H, Ye T, Huang Z, Liu R, Kuang Y (2013) Highly efficient removal of Cu(II) from aqueous solution by using graphene oxide. Water Air Soil Pollut 224:1372. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-012-1372-5
Yang J, Hou B, Wang J, Tian B, Bi J, Wang N, Li X, Huang X (2019) Nanomaterials for the removal of heavy metals from wastewater. Nanomaterials 9:424. https://doi.org/10.3390/nano9030424
Yin L, Wang D, Huang J, Cao L, Ouyang H, Yong X (2016) Morphology-controllable synthesis and enhanced photocatalytic activity of ZnS nanoparticles. J Alloys Compd 664:476–480. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jallcom.2015.10.281
Zepeda AM, Gonzalez D, Heredia LG, Marquez K, Perez C, Pena E, Flores K, Valdes C, Eubanks TM, Parsons JG, Cantu J (2018) Removal of Cu2+ and Ni2+ from aqueous solution using SnO2 nanomaterial effect of: pH, time, temperature, interfering cations. Microchem J. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.microc.2018.05.020
Zou W, Han R, Chen Z, Jinghua Z, Shi J (2006) Kinetic study of adsorption of Cu(II) and Pb(II) from aqueous solutions using manganese oxide coated zeolite in batch mode. Colloids Surf A Physicochem Eng Asp 279:238–246. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.colsurfa.2006.01.008
Acknowledgements
The Department of Chemistry at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley is grateful for the generous support provided by a Departmental Grant from the Robert A. Welch Foundation (Grant No. BX-0048). This work was the funding support received by NSF PREM award under grant No. DMR-2122178: UTRGV-UMN Partnership for Fostering Innovation by Bridging Excellence in Research and Student Success.
Funding
Finiancial support was obtained from a Departmental Grant from the Robert A. Welch Foundation Grant No. BX-0048). In addition, this work was also funded by NSF PREM (DMR-2122178): UTRGV-UMN Partnership for Fostering Innovation by Bridging Excellence in Research and Student Success.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Contributions
All authors contributed to the study conception and design. Material preparation, data collection, and analysis were performed by JMC, JPV, AP, CV, KF, HMM, EF, MA, EK, and JGP. The first draft of the manuscript was written by J.M. Cantu, and all authors commented on previous versions of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Conflict of interest
The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.
Availability of data and materials
Data are available upon request.
Code availability
No code was used.
Additional information
Editorial responsibility: Maryam Shabani.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Cantu, J.M., Valle, J.P., Puente, A. et al. Copper(II) and lead(II) adsorption onto zinc sulfide nanoparticles effects of light, pH, time, temperature, and interferences. Int. J. Environ. Sci. Technol. 19, 6993–7008 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13762-021-03610-w
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13762-021-03610-w