Removal of Pb(II) and Zn(II) from Aqueous Solutions by Raw Crab Shell: A Comparative Study.

Removals of Pb(II) and Zn(II) ions from water using crab (Clistocoeloma sinensis) shell particles as biosorbent have been compared in this study. Uptake equilibriums for two ions well described by Langmuir isotherm revealed that crab shell possessed higher uptake capacity for Pb(II) (709 mg/g) than that for Zn(II) (117 mg/g). Kinetics data for the uptake of the two metals were successfully modeled using the pseudo-second-order model, where the initial uptake rate of Pb(II) was much faster than that of Zn(II). Dubinin-Radushkevick modeling and thermodynamic parameters hinted at different uptake mechanisms of Pb(II) and Zn(II) removal by crab shell, attested by FTIR, XRD, FESEM analysis. Pb(II) ion was removed mainly through the chemical reaction, while the uptake of Zn(II) ion onto crab shell was attributed to the chelation and coordination interactions. The polluted river water and laboratory wastewater both satisfied the standards for drinking and irrigation/fishery water, respectively, after being treated with crab shell particles.