LAUSR

Abstract This work reported the synthesis of polyaniline/Sn(IV) phosphate (PANI-TP) nanocomposite by sol-gel method and its subsequent utilization for Cu(II) remediation via adsorption process. The synthesized product was characterized by Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), Tunneling electron microscopy (TEM), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Influence of various physicochemical parameters such as effect of contact time, pH and dose on adsorption process was investigated to optimize the process. Maximum adsorption (98%) occurred at pH 6 using an adsorbent dose of 10 g L−1. Langmuir and Freundlich models were utilized for the fitting of isotherm data. Maximum monolayer capacity as derived from Langmuir isotherm model was 52.04 mg g−1. The thermodynamic study showed that high temperature favours the process. Gibbs free energy value indicated spontaneous nature of the process. Breakthrough capacity as determined by column mode was found to be 10 mg g−1 and exhaustive capacity was 50 mg g−1.