Mamey apple peel for Cr3+ removal from contaminated waters

Abstract

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to evaluate the capacity of an adsorbent based on mamey apple (Mammea americana L.) peel for Cr3+ removal. Aqueous mediums based on distilled water and different initial concentrations of Cr3+, with a dose of 10 g of adsorbent per liter, were used. The residual concentrations of Cr3+ were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry, obtaining optimum values of pH of 2.9, the adsorbent particle size of 300 µm, and stirring rate of 300 rpm, for Cr3+ removal. Kinetic studies indicate a chemical adsorption process, with the best adjustment to pseudo-second-order models (R2 ≥ 0.9973), a contact time of 120 min to reach the adsorbent-Cr3+ equilibrium, and a good fit to the Freundlich model (R2 = 0.9291), with an adsorption intensity n of 1.5876. So, our results suggest that Cr3+ ions can be efficiently removed by using mamey apple peel-adsorbent.