Sustainable Fabrication of Arecanut Waste-Based Polymer Blend Adsorbents for Enhanced Lead(II) Ion Removal from Water

Abstract

Heavy metal contamination in water systems creates critical environmental and health challenges, necessitating sustainable remediation technologies. This study presents a unique approach utilizing arecanut organic residue an abundant agricultural waste, for removal of lead from water. A bioadsorbent composite film was synthesised using Chitosan-polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) incorporated with arecanut organic residue by solvent casting The physico chemical properties of the films were characterized using XRD, FTIR, optical profilometry, BET-surface area and SEM analyses. The adsorption efficiency of the synthesised films was tested in the removal of Pb(II) from water. The bioadsorbent films demonstrated Pb(II) removal efficiency of 94.6% from 5 ppm solutions at pH 6 within 60 minutes at 70°C using 0.5 g film.The optimisation studies revealed the critical role of functional group availability and film porosity of polymer blends along with experimental conditions which enhanced the adsorption capacity. The kinetic studies also confirmed the results obtained from optimisation studies. The sustainable bioadsorbent exhibited good reusability, maintaining performance over multiple cycles.