Chemistry Research Journal, 2017, 2(4):171-178

Available online www.chemrj.org

ISSN: 2455-8990
Research Article CODEN(USA): CRJHA5

Adsorption of Cr(lll), Pb(ll) and Cd(ll) ions from aqueous solution by Monkey bread
(Piliostigma thonningii) seed pod

Ekuma, F.K.*, Amadi, K.O., Ngwu, C.M, Enengdi, P. E.

Department of Chemistry, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike, P.M.B. 7267 Umuahia,
Abia State, Nigeria

Abstract The potential of piliostigma thonningii seed pod (a plant waste) as an adsorbent in the removal of Cd(II),
Cr(III) and Pb(II) ions from aqueous solution was investigated in this study. The influences of initial metal ion
concentration, pH and temperature on the adsorption process were investigated in a batch study. Maximum
percentages of each of the metals adsorbed were 89% for Cd(II), 92 % for Cr(III) and 98 % for Pb(II) ions at a fixed
temperature of 303 K. The trend of the heavy metal adsorption follows: Pb(II) > Cr(III) > Cd(II), indicating that
lead(ll) was best adsorbed by the adsorbent. From the two isotherm models applied to the experimental adsorption
data, Freundlich model was found to give best description to the experimental data. The feasibility of the process
was assessed using different thermodynamic parameters viz; ΔGads, ΔHads and ΔSads. Results obtained showed that
the ΔH values (J/mol) were 30.49, 35.94 and 47.40 while ΔS values (J mol -1 K-1) were 99.02, 117.07 and 154.73 for
Cd(II), Cr(III) and Pb(II) ions respectively, indicating the endothermic nature of the process and further revealed
increased randomness at solid/solution interface. This increased randomness at the solid-solution interface thus
indicates that physisorption is the likely predominant mode of the adsorption process. The negative ΔG values at the
different studied temperatures suggest that the adsorption process was spontaneous.

Keywords Adsorbent, Adsorption, Adsorption isotherms, heavy metal ions, piliostigma thonningii
Introduction
Water pollution is one of the most serious environmental problems facing the modern society [1, 2]. Wastewaters
contain varying degree of heavy metals, which are known for their non-degradability and toxicity. It is, therefore,
essential to control discharge of heavy metals into water bodies and natural streams since they are highly toxic even
at very low concentrations. They are released into the environment through different anthropogenic routes such as
photographic development, ceramics, alkaline batteries, electroplating and metal plating works [3]. They pose severe
threats to human health when released to the environment due to their high toxicity and are capable of exerting their
toxic effects even at low concentrations. Occupational levels of metals exposure have been observed to constitute
risk factors for chronic lung disease and testicular degradation [4].
Water insoluble chromium(lll) compounds and chromium metals are not considered health hazards while the
toxicity and carcinogenic properties of chromium(VI) had been known for a long time. The acute toxicity of
chromium(VI) is due to its strong oxidative properties. Chromium salts (chromates) are also the cause of allergic
reactions in some cases. Therefore, contact with products containing chromates can lead to allergic contact
dermatitis and irritant dermatitis, resulting in ulceration of the skin, sometimes referred to as “chrome ulcers” [5].

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Cadmium had been known to cause damages to some specific structure of the functional units of the kidney [6].
Chronic inhalation or oral exposure of animals to cadmium results in effects on the kidney, liver, lungs, bone,
immune system, blood and nervous systems [7]. The Reference Dose (RFD) for cadmium in drinking water is 0.05
mg/kg/day and RFD for dietary exposure to cadmium is 0.001 mg/kg/day and both are based on significant protein-
urea in humans [8].
Lead poisoning also known as plumbism is a type of metal poisoning and a medical condition in humans and other
vertebrates caused by increased levels of lead. According to Staudinger et al. [9], lead is particularly toxic to
children causing potentially permanent learning and behavioural disorders. Symptoms include abdominal pain,
headache, anemia, irritability and in severe cases seizer, coma and death. The toxicity of lead can lead to loss of
memory or concentration, depression, nausea, abdominal pain, loss of coordination, numbness and tingling in the
extremities [10].
For these reasons, it is imperative to focus attention on the development of improved friendly methods and low cost
adsorbents for toxic heavy metal removal. Various techniques are in use for the removal of heavy metals from the
industrial discharge but adsorption technology has been found to show high efficiency in detoxifying effluents.
Adsorption utilizes the ability to accumulate heavy metals from waste water by either metabolically mediated or
physiochemical pathway of uptake [11].
This work is therefore aimed at exploring the adsorptive behaviour of piliostigma thonningii seed pod, a plant waste,
towards the removal of the following heavy metal ions: lead(II), cadmium(II) and chromium(III) from aqueous
solution. The selection of this novel adsorbent in the removal of aforementioned metal ions is due to its cheapness,
non-toxicity and ease of availability,

Materials and Methods

Materials
All the chemicals used were of analytical grades. Stock solutions of each of lead(II) nitrate, cadmium(II) chloride
and chromium(III) chloride were used as adsorbates and solutions of various concentrations (10, 20, 30, 40 and 50
mg/L) were obtained by serially diluting the stock solutions with deionized water. The adsorbent, Piliostigma
thonningii seed pod was washed at the first step and then rinsed copiously with deionized water. After drying at 100
O
C, it was grounded and screened (using screen with mesh size 40 μm) followed by activation by soaking in 0.3 M
HNO3 with continuous stirring for 30 min and left undisturbed for 24 hr and then filtered, dried in the oven at
temperature of 75 OC for 6 hr and kept in plastic containers in readiness for the adsorption process.
Adsorption experiments
Sorption experiments were carried out as a function of pH, initial metal ions concentration and temperature using
adsorbent dosage of 0.15 g and adsorbate volume of 25 ml (0.025 L). Stock solutions of 1000 mg L-1 of each of the
metal ions Cd(II), Pb(II) and Cr(III) used for the adsorption study were prepared from the salt of the individual ions.
From the stock solutions, various working concentrations of 10 mg/L, 20 mg/L, 30 mg/L, 40 mg L-1and 50 mg L-1of
each of the metal ions were prepared by serial dilution. The effect of initial metal ion concentration on equilibrium
adsorption of the Pb(II), Cd(II) and Cr(III) ions by the adsorbent was carried out by introducing 25 cm 3 of various
concentrations (10 mg L-1, 20 mg L-1, 30 mg L-1, 40 mg L-1 and 50 mg L-1) of the metal ions into different 100 cm3
Erlenmeyer flasks containing 0.15 g of the adsorbent of particle size 40 µm. The flasks were shaken for 2 h in a
thermostated mechanical shaker maintained at a temperature of 30 0C and at a pH 6.0. At the end of the contact time
(2 h), the suspension was centrifuged at 3000 rpm for 10 min and the mixtures filtered rapidly into separate sample
bottles [12]. The residual metal ion concentration in the filtrate was determined using Atomic Absorption
Spectrophotometer. Concentration of blank solution (without adsorbent) was also measured.
The effect of pH on adsorption of the metal ions was studied by varying the pH of the metal solution using 0.1 M
solutions of HCl and NaOH to adjust the pH to the required pH and pH values of 2.0, 4.0, 5.0, 6.0, 7.0 and 8.0 were
obtained. Exactly 25 cm3 portions of 50 mg L-1of each of the metal ion solutions were introduced into different 100
cm3 Erlenmeyer flasks containing 0.15 g of the adsorbent of particle size 40 µm. The mixtures were shaken

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intermittently in a thermostated mechanical shaker maintained at 30 oC for 2 h and then filtered. The residual metal
ion concentration of each filtrate was finally determined using VPG Buck scientific 210/211 Atomic Absorption
Spectrophotometer (AAS).
The effect of temperature on the adsorption process was carried out using 0.15 g of dry adsorbent at initial
concentration 50 mg/L, allowing sufficient time of 120 min for adsorption equilibrium to reach. The studies were
performed at different temperatures of 303 K, 313 K, 323 K, 333 K and 343 K. At the end of the contact time (2 h),
the suspension was centrifuged at 3000 rpm for 10 min and supernatants were filtered rapidly through Whatman No.
42 filter paper into separate sample bottles. The lead, cadmium and chromium ions concentration in the filtrate were
determined using VPG Buck scientific 210/211 Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. Generally, the described
procedure for each parameter was carried out in triplicates and mean residual concentration taken. The amount
adsorbed qe (mg/g) and percentage adsorption, % R were both calculated from the average residual metal ions
concentration in solution using the relations [13, 14]:
𝐶𝑜−𝐶𝑒
qe = * V (1)
𝑚
𝐶𝑜 −𝐶𝑒
%𝑅 = × 100 (2)
𝐶𝑜
Where Co and Ce are the initial and the final metal ion concentrations (mg/L), V is the volume of the sample (L)
while m is the dry mass of adsorbent (g).

Results and Discussion

Effect of pH
The pH of an aqueous solution is an important factor governing both the availability of metal ions in solution as well
as the number of binding sites on the adsorbent [15, 16]. The experiments were conducted below pH 8.5 to avoid
possible hydroxide precipitation which may erroneously present a higher adsorption capacity for the metal ions by
the adsorbent. The biosorption capacity increased with increasing pH and optimum pH for removal of Cd(II), Cr(III)
and Pb(II) by the adsorbent occurred at pH 6, 7 and 4 with the adsorption capacities of 4.69 mg/g, 4.83 mg/g and
4.99 mg/g. The trend of the heavy metal removal therefore follows: Pb(II) > Cr(III) > Cd(II).
6
5
4
qe(mg/g)

Cd(II)
3
Cr(III)
2
1 Pb(II)

0
0 2 4 6 8 10
pH
Figure 1: Effect of pH on the adsorption of the metal ions onto P. thonningii seed pod
Effect of initial metal ion concentration
The initial metal ion concentration provides an important driving force to overcome mass transfer resistance of all
molecules between the aqueous and the solid phases [17, 18]. Figure 2 shows the variation of removal efficiencies
with initial metal ion concentrations. The metal ion concentrations chosen in our study ranged from 10 mg/L to 50
mg/L. For the fixed adsorbent mass of 0.15 g/L used in the study, it was observed that as metal ion concentrations
increase, the removal efficiencies of the adsorbents decreased from 47.75% to 47.6%, 66.5% to 66.4 % and 48.75 to
48.40% for Cd(II), Cr(III) and Pb(II) ions respectively. This shows that increasing the initial heavy metal
concentrations in the solutions at the fixed adsorbent mass of 0.15 g decreased the percentage metal removal. This
may be explained on the basis that the increase in the number of ions competing for the fixed available binding sites
and also limited active sites on the adsorbent at higher metal ion concentrations. This shows that a given mass of an

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adsorbent material has a finite number of adsorption sites, and that as the metal concentrations increase, these sites
become saturated. Therefore, more metal ions were left un-adsorbed in solution at higher concentration levels [19].
49

48

47
Cd(II)
%R

46 Cr(III)
45 Pb(II)

44
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
Initial metal ion concentrations (mg/L)
Figure 2: Effect of the initial metal ion concentration on the percentage metal ion adsorbed onto P. thonningii seed
pod
Adsorption Isotherms
A good representation of the dynamic adsorption separation of solute from solution onto an adsorbent depends upon
a good description of the equilibrium separation between the two phases [20]. The nature of interaction between the
adsorbate and adsorbent, i.e. favorable or unfavorable, can be determined from the isotherm shape.
In order to quantify the amount of metal ions adsorbed by the adsorbent and to determine the mechanism of the
adsorption process onto the adsorbent, the experimental data were applied to Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm
equations. The constant parameters of the isotherm equations for this adsorption process were calculated by
regression using linear forms of the isotherm equations.
The Langmuir Isotherm model
The Langmuir isotherm represents the equilibrium distribution of metal ions between the solid and liquid phases.
This isotherm predicts monolayer coverage of the adsorbate (metal ions) on the outer surface of the adsorbent and
assumes that there is no lateral interaction between the adsorbed molecules [21]. The Langmuir equation can be
presented by the well known equation [22].
𝐶𝑒 1 𝐶𝑒
= + (3)
𝑞𝑒 𝑞 𝑚𝑎𝑥 𝐾𝐿 𝑞 𝑚𝑎𝑥
Where qe is the adsorption capacity in mg of adsorbate per gram of adsorbent, C e is the residual (equilibrium) metal
ions concentration in solution, qmax is the maximum adsorption capacity corresponding to the monolayer coverage
and KL is the Langmuir isotherm constant, which expresses the intensity of the adsorption process. Plots of C e/qe vs
Ce were all linear but of negative slope as depicted in figure 3 and this shows that the experimental adsorption data
did not follow the Langmuir adsorption isotherm model.
Cd(II):y = -0.035x + 11.77 Cr(III):y = -0.029x + 12.19
12.5 R² = 0.808 R² = 0.716
Pb(II):y = -0.008x + 10.79
12
R² = 0.369
11.5
Ce/qe

Cd(II)
11 Cr(III)
10.5 Pb(II)
10
0 5 10 15 20 25 30
Ce
Figure 3: Langmuir isotherm plot for adsorption of the metal ions onto P. thonningii seed pod

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Equilibrium Freundlich isotherm

This model proposes heterogeneous energetic distribution of active sites, accompanied by the interaction between
adsorbed molecules. The linearized form of Freundlich adsorption isotherm is represented as [23, 24].
1
ln 𝑞𝑒 = ln 𝐾𝐹 + ln 𝐶𝑒 (4)
n
KF and n are Freundlich constants describing both the intensity and capacity of the adsorption process respectively.
Figure 4 is linear plots of ln qe vs ln Ce according to Freundlich Isotherm equation. The constants K F and 1/n were
calculated from the intercept and slope of the linear Freundlich isotherm plots and are represented in table 1. K F
shows the ease of removal and separation of the heavy metal ions from aqueous solutions. In all cases reported here,
the range of the values of n was within 0.96 to 0.99 for the adsorption of the metal ions indicating beneficial
adsorption for the system under study. This Freundlich type behavior is indicative of the surface heterogeneity of the
adsorbent, i.e. the adsorptive sites (surface of the studied adsorbent) are made up of small heterogeneous adsorption
patches that are homogeneous in themselves. According to Anusiem et al. [25], the fit of experimental adsorption
data to Freundlich model indicates that the force of adsorption by the adsorbent is governed by physisorption. The
high R2 values suggest an excellent fitting of experimental data into Freundlich model. The calculated Freundlich
constants and the R2 values are presented in table 1.
1
Cr(III):y = 1.038x - 2.562
0.8 R² = 0.999
0.6
Cd(II):y = 1.043x - 2.531
0.4 R² = 0.999
0.2
ln qe

0
-0.2 0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5
-0.4 Cd(II)
Pb(II):y = 1.012x - 2.398
-0.6 R² = 0.999
Pb(II)
-0.8
-1 Cr(III)
ln Ce
Figure 4: Freundlich isotherm plot of ln qe vs ln Ce for adsorption of the metal ions onto P. thonningii seed pod

Table 1: Freundlich isotherm constants for adsorption of Cd(II), Cr(III) and Pb(II) ions by the adsorbent
Constants Metal ions
Cr(III) Cd(II) Pb(II)
KF 0.077 0.080 0.091
n 0.97 0.96 0.99
2
R 0.999 0.999 0.999

Adsorption Thermodynamics
The thermodynamics of adsorption of lead(II), cadmium(II) and chromium(III) ions by piliostigma thonningii were
investigated at temperature range of 303 K to 343 K and with metal ion concentration of 50 mg/L and the results are
represented in Figure 5.
In order to evaluate the activation energy for the process, the Arrhenius equation was used (equation 5)
𝑘 = 𝐴𝑒𝑥𝑝(− 𝐸𝑎 𝑅𝑇 ) (5)
Where k is the adsorption rate constant obtained from the slope of kinetic plot, Ea is the activation energy of
adsorption, R is the gas constant and T is the temperature in Kelvin.
Transforming equation (5) to natural logarithmic form becomes
ln k = ln A – Ea/RT (6)

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The plot of ln k versus 1/T should produce a straight line with slope equal to –Ea/RT, from which the Ea values of
35.94, 30.49 and 47.40 in J/mol for Cr(III), Cd(II) and Pb(II) ions respectively were obtained.
The thermodynamic parameters (ΔH and ΔS) for the adsorption process were calculated using the following
equations:
ΔG = -RT ln K (7)
ln 𝐾 = − ∆𝐺 𝑅𝑇 = − ∆𝐻 − 𝑇∆𝑆 /𝑅𝑇 (8)
ln 𝐾 = − ∆𝐻 𝑅𝑇 + ∆𝑆 𝑅 (9)
The plot of ln K Vs 1/T should produce a straight line with slope equal to –ΔH/R and the intercept ΔS/R, from
which ΔH and ΔS can be calculated from the linear plots respectively. The observed thermodynamic values are
given in table 2.
The negative values of ΔG at all temperatures indicated that the adsorption process was spontaneous and that the
adsorbent sites have affinity for the metal ions. The positive values of ΔH give an indication that the adsorption
process was endothermic while the positive values of ΔS showed an increase in randomness at the solid/solution
interface after metal ions adsorption on the adsorbent surface.
2.5 Cr(III):y = -4.323x + 14.08
R² = 0.987
2
Cd(II):y = -3.667x + 11.91
R² = 0.969
1.5
Pb(II):y = -5.701x + 18.61
Cd(II)
ln K

1 R² = 0.958
Cr(III)
0.5 Pb(II)

0
2.8 2.9 3 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4
-0.5
0.001 X 1/T(K)
Figure 5: The plot of lnK versus 1/T for the adsorption of metal ions onto P. thonningii seed pod

Table 2: Thermodynamic parameters for the adsorption of metal ions onto P. thonningii seed pod. at temperatures
303K, 313K, 323K, 333K and 343K
Metal ions ΔH(J/mol) ΔS(J/mol) ΔG(303 K) ΔG(313 K) ΔG(323K) ΔG(333K) ΔG(343K)
(kJ/mol) (kJ/mol (kJ/mol) (kJ/mol) (kJ/mol)
Cd(II) 30.49 99.02 -29.972 -30.962 -31.952 -32.943 -33.933
Cr(III) 35.94 117.07 -35.436 -36.606 -37.777 -38.948 -40.119
Pb(II) 47.40 154.73 -46.835 -48.383 -49.930 -51.477 -53.024

Conclusion
Use of P. thonningii seed pod., an agricultural waste as an adsorbent for adsorption of Cd(II), Cr(III) and Pb(II) ions
fron aqueous solution has been explored under batch adsorption study. The study was subjected to different pH’s to
determine the optimum pH for adsorption of each of the metal ions since they are bound to exist strong electrostatic
attraction between the negatively charged adsorbent and the positively charged metal ions at different pH.. The
amount of metal ions adsorbed was found to vary with initial metal ion concentration and temperature. The
adsorption data fitted well to the Freundlich isotherm model and the recorded maximum percentage removals were
66.5%, 66.5% and 48.75% for Cr(III), Pb(II) and Cd(II) ions respectively at 323K. Thermodynamic assessment of
the process revealed that the adsorption process was endothermic and spontaneous.

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