Adsorption profile and complexing behavior of Hg(II) ions onto polyurethane foam from acidic mixed solvent system (H²O+ethanol) containing dithizone

A new method has been developed to remove Hg(II) metal ion by preconcentrating onto polyurethane foam (PUF) from acidic mixed solvent system (0.5N HNO³+25% ethanol) containing dithizone. Batch experiments were carried out to assess adsorption equilibrium and kinetic behavior by varying parameters such as acid concentration, agitation time, aqueous- ethanol ratio, and metal ion concentration. These facilitated the computation of kinetic parameters and adsorption behavior. The optimum conditions of sorption of mixed solvent system are 0.5molL^-11 HNO³+25% ethanol containing 1.95×10^-4 molL^-1 of dithizone with 40 minutes of equilibrium time. The kinetic parameters indicate that sorption follows the first-order reaction and intraparticle diffusion process. The obtained data followed the adsorption models. i.e., Freundlich, Langmuir, and Dubinin-Radushkevich (D-R) isotherms successfully. The thermodynamics studies indicate that sorption increases with rise in temperature, entropy driven, and endothermic chemisorption. The nature of the sorption mechanism of Hg(II) ions with dithizone and PUF has been discussed and the composition of the adsorbed complex has been predicted. The effect of different foreign cations and anions has been investigated. The data indicates that only EDTA, thiosulphate, and cyanide are interfering. The method was applied on different synthetic mixtures and saline solution to test the selectivity of the new method for the abatement of Hg(II) ions from mixed solvent system.