Cost-effective biosorption of ammonium ion from aqueous solutions using Corchorus olitorius L. leaves

Abstract

To remove ammonium ions at a low cost, this study utilized Corchorus olitorius leave biosorbents. Various removal parameters are conducted to find the best ammonium removal method. They are the initial ammonium concentration, the adsorbent dose, the contact time, and pH. The fitted equilibrium data were accurately described and analyzed using the Freundlich, Temkin, Langmuir, and Dubinin-Radushkevich models. Langmuir isotherm model R2 (0.9982), which has a maximum saturated monolayer sorption capacity of 5.62 mg g-1, was particularly amenable to the developed method. Good agreement was found between the experimental value of qe (4.05 mg g-1) and calculated values of qe (4.14 mg g-1), demonstrating that the adsorption process follows pseudo-second-order kinetics and resulting in a high value of R2 (0.9993). The adsorption procedure was conducted at various temperatures to assess how temperature impacts the thermodynamic parameters. Consistently negative values for ΔGo across a wide temperature range demonstrate the spontaneity of biosorption reactions. Exothermicity (ΔHo = -91.98 kJ mol-1) was measured during adsorption. A lower value for ΔS° at the solid solution interface between ammonium and adsorbent denotes less disorder and randomness in the system. The results of the experiments show that the leaves of the inexpensive and widely available plant Corchorus olitorius have a remarkable effect on ammonium ions removal from aqueous solutions.