Fast microwave-assisted sorption of heavy metals on the surface of nanosilica-functionalized-glycine and reduced glutathione.

Two eco-friendly nanosorbents have been designed and synthesized via surface crosslinking of nanosilica (N-Si) with glycine (Gly) and reduced glutathione (GSH) to produce (N-Si-Gly) and (N-Si-Glu) using crosslinking reagent and sonochemical reactions, respectively. An investigation was performed to search selectivity of nanosorbents via microwave-assisted removal of Ni(II)/Cu(II)/Cd(II)/Pb(II) to affirm green and fast technique. The microwave-assisted removal values of Ni(II), Cu(II), Cd(II) and Pb(II) were observed at 850, 2100, 3500 and 2150 μmol g-1, respectively utilizing 10 mg of (N-Si-Glu) and 25.0 s heating, while those corresponded to 750, 1800, 2500 and 1850 μmol g-1, respectively by using (N-Si-Gly). The microwave-assisted removal processes were more fitted to Freundlich compared to Langmuir isotherm except in case of Pb(II). The high percent removal of Cd(II) and Pb(II) ions exceed 95% from the second run in real wastewater samples indicating the efficiency of N-Si-Glu in the uptake of these metals utilizing microwave-assisted sorption technique.