Cotton Fiber/ZrO₂, A New Material for Adsorption of Cr(VI) Ions in Water

Abstract

Abstract The natural cotton fiber was used to synthesize an anion exchange, containing ZrO 2 film on its surface, NCFZC (natural cotton fiber/ZrO 2 composite). This anion exchanger was produced by the reaction of the zirconium oxychloride and hydroxyl groups on surface of the natural cotton fiber. The material was used for Cr(VI) ions adsorption studies. Adsorption equilibrium time and optimum pH for Cr(VI) adsorption were found to be 6 h and 4.0, respectively. The Langmuir and Temkin isotherms were used to models adsorption equilibrium data. The adsorption capacity of NCFZC was found to be 1.33 mmol/g. Kinetic studies showed that the rate of adsorption of Cr(VI) on NCFZC obeyed a pseudo‐second‐order kinetic model.