Equilibrium, Kinetic, and Thermodynamic Studies of Pb (II) ions Adsorption onto Modified Tamarind Fruit Pulp

Abstract

The challenge of accessing clean drinking water in urban Kenya is compounded by contamination from heavy metals, leading to serious health risks such as kidney and brain damage. Industrialization and technological advancement have exacerbated the problem of increase of Pb (II) ions and other heavy metals in water ecosystem through industrial effluents. This study investigated the use of modified tamarind fruit pulp (MTFP) for the adsorption of (Pb II) ions from synthetic wastewater. Characterization techniques like XRF and FT-IR were utilized, and adsorption experiments were conducted by varying pH, contact time, temperature, dosage, and initial concentrations of the metals. The results were analysed statistically using ANOVA, with significant differences at P ≤ 0.05. The equilibrium studies indicated that the adsorption of Pb (II) ions was best represented by the Freundlich model, with adsorption capacities of 1.30 and 1.67 mg/g for unmodified tamarind fruit pulp (UTFP) and modified tamarind fruit pulp (MTFP), respectively. Thermodynamic study showed that the adsorption process was thermodynamically spontaneous and endothermic. Kinetic studies revealed that chemisorption was the rate limiting step in the adsorption of Pb (II) ions. This information revealed the enhanced capabilities of MTFP to effectively remove Pb (II) ions from wastewater, showcasing its potential as an eco-friendly adsorbent.