Chicken feathers derived materials for the removal of chromium from aqueous solutions: kinetics, isotherms, thermodynamics and regeneration studies

In the present study, chicken feathers (CFs), obtained from animal waste, were used as bio-adsorbent for the removal of hazardous Cr(VI) ions from aqueous solutions. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDX), x-ray diffraction (XRD), adsorption of N2 at −196 °C, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and point of zero charge (pHpzc) determination were used to characterize the adsorbent. The N2 adsorption results revealed high surface area and microporous structure for the adsorbent. The experimental results in batch adsorption show that optimum conditions are: pH 2.5, equilibrium contact time 180 minutes, concentration of CFs 11 g L−1, and initial Cr(VI) concentration 25 mg L−1. The experimental data on Cr(VI) adsorption were fitted using the Langmuir and…