Synthesis and properties of magnetic Cu(II) ion imprinted composite adsorbent for selective removal of copper

A new magnetic Cu(II) ion imprinted composite adsorbent (Cu(II)–MICA) was synthesized with waste fungal mycelium from industry, chitosan (CS) and Fe3O4 nanoparticles combining metal imprinting technology. It was compared with its corresponding single component and magnetic non-imprinted composite adsorbent (MNICA). Batch adsorption studies were performed to evaluate adsorption isotherm, adsorption selectivity, adsorption kinetics, magnetic settlement and desorption characters. The Langmuir adsorption isotherm fit well in the experimental equilibrium data. The maximum sorption calculated from the Langmuir isotherm was 71.36 mg/g and 44.78 mg/g for Cu(II)–MICA and MNICA in their sole Cu(II) solution at 25EC and pH 5.5. Competitive sorption of multi-ions studies indicated that the Cu(II)–MICA had high single selectivity sorption for Cu(II). It showed metal ion affinity in the competitive conditions of Cu(II)>Zn(II)>Co(II)>Ni(II). Kinetics studies showed that the adsorption process obeyed pseudo-second-order rate mechanism with an initial adsorption rate of 253.2 and 198.0 mg/g min for Cu(II)– MICA and Cu(II)–MNICA, respectively. Results showed that Cu(II)–MICA was a material of efficient, low-cost, convenient separation under additional magnetic field and could be reused for five times with about 14–15% regeneration loss.