Adsorption of aqueous Pb(II) using non-devulcanized and devulcanized tyre rubber powder: a comparative study

Abstract

This study aimed to compare the adsorption of Pb(II) ions from an aqueous solution using non-devulcanized (NTR) and devulcanized tyre rubber (DTR) powder. Both types of rubber particles were prepared from used truck tyres, with DTR processed through mechano-chemical devulcanization. The adsorption experiments were conducted using 100–200 µm particles, with adsorbent doses ranging from 5 to 15 g/L. Effects of adsorbent dose, initial metal concentration and contact time were investigated. Characterization of both adsorbents was done using SEM–EDS, FTIR, and XRD analysis. Different adsorption isotherm and kinetic models were used to analyse the adsorption mechanisms. The results of the study showed that DTR was significantly more efficient at adsorbing Pb(II) compared to NTR. The maximum adsorption capacities estimated from the Langmuir equation were 75.1 mg/g and 6.61 mg/g for DTR and NTR, respectively. Among the kinetic models tested, pseudo 2nd order kinetic model was found to be the most suitable for tyre rubber adsorbents. The optimal dose and contact time were found to be 5 g/L and 120 min, respectively, for both adsorbents. The superior performance of DTR in Pb(II) adsorption was attributed to the change in the surface morphology of the rubber during the devulcanization process, resulting in increased surface roughness. The adsorption of Pb(II) was accompanied by the leaching of Zn from both types of rubber, suggesting that an ion exchange mechanism might be involved in the adsorption process. In conclusion, devulcanization appears to be a viable method for improving the adsorption properties of tyre rubber.