Polymeric organogel as an effective approach for eradication of heavy metal ions As, Pb, Cd, and Cr from the surface of groundwater through adsorption stratagem

Abstract

Excess metal pollutant has affected and caused serious havoc in the lives of terrestrial as well as aquatic beings. The core of this work revolves around eradicating highly toxic heavy metal ions from underground water systems using a cost‐effective, high removal efficiency polymeric adsorbent capable of adsorbing and removing ionic metals whose backbone is composed of a bio‐degradable polymer, polyvinyl alcohol. The obtained adsorbent was characterized using FT‐IR, HNMR, and P‐XRD. Morphological studies were carried out using SEM. Detection and adsorption of metal ions were performed using SEM–EDX and AAS; wherein the adsorbent was found to remove nearly 80% of arsenic ions, 70.5% and 70.7% for lead and chromium ions while 60.7% for cadmium ions, respectively. Further, the kinetics of adsorption along with intraparticle diffusion studies were also performed to determine the mechanism alongside observing the isothermal influence of the sorbent. The adsorption capacity was seen to be highest in arsenic at around 570.42 mg g−1 thus acting as a potential and effective adsorbent for the removal of heavy metal ions from groundwater.