Synthesis and Characterizations of Polythiophene–Al2O3 Based Nanosorbent and Its Applications in the Removal of Pb2+, Cd2+ and Zn2+ Ions

In the present study, we have synthesized polythiophene–Al2O3 based nanosorbent and removed Pb2+, Cd2+ and Zn2+ ions from waste water. The polythiophene–Al2O3 (PTh–Al2O3) based nanosorbent has been characterized by different analytical methods such as FTIR, FESEM, powder XRD and EDX. The adsorption study was included contact time, temperature, dosage, concentrations and pH. The maximum adsorption was achieved at optimized conditions such as contact time 60 min, dosage 1 g and pH 6. The adsorption efficiencies for Pb2+, Cd2+ and Zn2+ ions have been recorded 69.9, 49.9 and 30.2% at contact time 60 min, 84.9, 73.9 and 69.5% at pH 6 and 65.8, 43.7 and 23.2% at the dosage of sorbent 1 g, respectively. The equilibrium data of adsorption were tested with different kinetic and isothermal models and the equilibrium data of adsorption best fitted to Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin, pseudo first order and intra particles diffusion models.