Effective Removal of Heavy Metal Ions Using Glycerol and Starch Xanthate

Abstract

Glycerol and insoluble starch xanthates were synthesised and effectively used in the removal of Pb, Cd and Cu from aqueous solutions. The insoluble metal complex formed between the sulphur atoms in the xanthates and the heavy metals were easily separated. Lower dosage of glycerol xanthate was required in each case, with the optimum molar ratio (M²⁺/GX) of 2. Moreover, the use of glycerol xanthate required no pH adjustments to give a 100 % heavy metal removal within the range of the detection limit. As for the ISX, there was a remarkable metal scavenging activity when the ISX contained high amount of Sulphur per molecule (10.12% S) and when the pH was adjusted to 6. Butyl xanthate was also synthesised to make a good comparison with the glycerol and insoluble starch xanthate. The xanthates from these two sustainable materials (Starch and glycerol) are proven to be more effective in metal scavenging activity. FTIR and CHNS elemental analyses were used to prove the evidence of xanthation, in addition, ¹³C NMR was used to characterise the glycerol xanthate.

Keywords

• Glycerol,Heavy metals,Starch,Sulphur

References

1. 1. Brostow W, Pal S, Sing R. P., A Model of Flocculation. Materials Letters, 2007;February:61(22):4381–4.
2. 2. Guo L., S. Zhang S., Ben-Zhi Ju B., Yang J., Quan X., Removal of Pb(II) from Aqueous Solution by Cross-linked Starch Phosphate Carbamate. Journal of Polymer Research. 2006 September;13(3):213–7.
3. 3. Chaudhari S., Tare V., Heavy Metal–Soluble Starch Xanthate Interactions in Aqueous Environments. Journal of Applied Polymer Science. 1999 Feb 22;71(8):1325–32.
4. 4. Patterson J. W., Effect of carbonate ion on precipitation treatment of cadmium, copper and lead. Proceeding 36th annual industrial waste conference, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 1981;579-602
5. 5. Chang YK., Shih PH., Chiang LC., Chen TC., Lu HC., Chang JE., Removal of heavy metal by insoluble starch xanthate. Environmental Informatics Archive. 2007;5:684-9.
6. 6. Wing R.E., Doane W. M., Russel C. R., Insoluble starch xanthate: Use in heavy metal removal. Journal of Applied Polymer Science. 1975 Mar;19(3):847–54.
7. 7. Dao-ling X., Yue-hua H., Wen-qin Q., Ming-fei H., Synthesis of glycerine-xanthate and its depressing mechanism in separation of marmatite from arsenopyrite. Journal of Central South University of Technology. 2006 Dec;13(6):678–82.
8. 8. Mohamed A. A, Kani I., Ramirez A. O., Fackler J. P., Synthesis, Characterization, and Luminescent Properties of Dinuclear Gold(I) Xanthate Complexes: X-ray Structure of [Au2( nBu-xanthate)2. Inorganic Chemistry. 2004 Jun;43(13):3833–9.

9. 9. Gorgulu A. O., Celikkan H., Arslana M., The Synthesis, Characterization and Electrochemical Behaviour of Transition Metal Complexes Containing Nitrogen Heterocyclic Sulphur Donor Ligand. Acta Chimica Slovenica. 2009 Jul;56:334-9.
10. 10. Tan R., Datong Song D., C−H and C−S Activations of Quinoline-Functionalized Thiophenes by Platinum Complexes. Organometallics. 2011 Mar; 30:1637–45.
11. 11. Mostafa, KM., Samarkandy M., El-Sanabary AA. Graft Copolymers and their Application in Waste Water Treatment. Journal of Applied Polymer Science. 2009 Nov;112:2838-46.
12. 12. Dharmadi Y., Murarka A, Gonzalez R., Anaerobic Fermentation of Glycerol by E. Coli. Biotechnology and Bioengineering. 2006 Aug;94:821-9.