Chemical modification of expanded glass aggregate with N-Benzoyl-N’-(4-methylphenyl) thiourea (TTU) for the adsorptive removal of Cr(III) ion

In this study, the silylant agent 3-aminopropyl trimethoxysilane (APTES) was anchored on expanded glass aggregate (GA) to prepare a new adsorbent. N-Benzoyl-N′-(4-methylphenyl) thiourea (TTU) bonded to amino-functionalized GA adsorbent with reflux. Developed adsorbent (GA-APTES-TTU) was characterized using thermal analysis (TGA) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). TGA and SEM studies indicated that modification of the glass aggregate (GA) surfaces was successfully performed. The adsorption studies exhibited that the GA-APTES-TTU could be efficiently used for the removal of Cr(III) from aqueous solutions. The effects of pH, adsorbent dosage, ion concentration, time, and temperature were investigated as adsorption parameters. The maximum removal of Cr(III) was observed at pH 4. The adsorption equilibrium was achieved in 120min and adsorption of Cr(III) followed the Langmuir isotherm model. The maximum adsorption capacity for Cr(III) was 0.4305mmol/g with GA-APTES-TTU. Thermodynamic parameters such as the standard free energy (ΔGo), enthalpy change (ΔH°) and entropy change (ΔS°) were calculated in order to explain the mechanism of adsorption process. The thermodynamic data showed that Cr(III) adsorption was spontaneous, endothermic, and a physisorption reaction. In addition, the adsorption kinetic data fitted to the pseudo-second order model.