Equilibrium, kinetic and thermodynamic studies on perchlorate adsorption by cross-linked quaternary chitosan

Cross-linked quaternary chitosan salt (QCS) was used for perchlorate removal from aqueous solution. The effect of pH and co-existing anions on the adsorption process, adsorption isotherms, kinetics and thermodynamics was investigated. The thermo stability and the solubility in water were improved after QCS was cross-linked by glutaraldehyde. The cross-linked QCS showed maximum monolayer adsorption capacity of 119.0 mg/g, which was 2.5 times higher than protonated cross-linked chitosan. The adsorption process was almost independent of pH in a range from 4.0 to 10.3, which was much wider than using protonated cross-linked chitosan with applicable pH range of 4.0–6.0. The effect from co-existing anions on perchlorate adsorption followed the order: Cl− > NO3- > SO42-. The adsorption data fitted Langmuir and Tempkin isotherm models well. Adsorption kinetic analysis showed that chemical adsorption was a rate-limiting stage during the adsorption process. The adsorption reaction was exothermic and spontaneous according to the calculated result of adsorption thermodynamics. The spent adsorbents could be effectively regenerated by NaCl solution with the concentration higher than 0.3%. Fourier transformation infrared spectra and the change of Cl− concentration in solution demonstrated that the ion-exchange interaction might occur between the chloride ions on the quaternary ammonium salt groups of the cross-linked QCS and the perchlorate ions in solution, resulting in the perchlorate adsorption onto the cross-linked QCS.