Removal of Cu(II) from water using Succinic Anhydride functionalized TiO_2 nanoparticles

Removal of heavy metals from wastewater is a need of the hour. Titanium dioxide (TiO_2) nanoparticles were functionalized using succinic anhydride (SA) and adsorption of copper (II) on SA functionalized TiO_2 nanoparticles (TiOSA) was carried out. The adsorption of Cu (II) on TiOSA was estimated concerning pH, contact time, and adsorbent dose. The study confirms the best removal of Cu (II) using the said adsorbent is at pH 8. The Cu (II) concentration can be reduced to less than 1.1 mg/L at a contact time of 180 min with an initial 15 mg/L Cu (II) concentration using the adsorbent dose of 0.6 g/50 mL. The study reveals that the adsorption process preferably follows the Langmuir isotherm model. Also, the thermodynamic parameters like entropy change (ΔS°), enthalpy change (ΔH°), and free energy change (ΔG°) were calculated for the adsorption process. The pseudo- second-order kinetic model was found to be better fitted to the adsorption.