Preparation and Evaluation of Phenol Formaldehyde-Montmorillonite and Its Utilization in the Adsorption of Lead Ions from Aqueous Solution

Moaz M Abdou; Abdel-Ghany A Soliman; Atef S Kobisy; Ahmed Abu-Rayyan; Mohammad Al-Omari; Hussah A Alshwyeh; Ahmed H Ragab; Hossa F Al Shareef; Nabila S Ammar

doi:10.1021/acsomega.3c09830

Preparation and Evaluation of Phenol Formaldehyde-Montmorillonite and Its Utilization in the Adsorption of Lead Ions from Aqueous Solution

ACS Omega. 2024 Mar 1;9(10):12015-12026. doi: 10.1021/acsomega.3c09830. eCollection 2024 Mar 12.

Authors

Moaz M Abdou¹, Abdel-Ghany A Soliman², Atef S Kobisy¹, Ahmed Abu-Rayyan³, Mohammad Al-Omari³, Hussah A Alshwyeh^{4

5}, Ahmed H Ragab⁶, Hossa F Al Shareef⁷, Nabila S Ammar⁸

Affiliations

¹ Egyptian Petroleum Research Institute, Cairo 11727, Egypt.
² National Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries, Cairo 11796, Egypt.
³ Faculty of Science, Applied Science Private University, Amman 11931, Jordan.
⁴ Department of Biology, College of Science, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam 31441, Saudi Arabia.
⁵ Basic & Applied Scientific Research Center (BASRC), Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam 31441, Saudi Arabia.
⁶ Chemistry Department, College of Science, King Khalid University, Abha 61413, Saudi Arabia.
⁷ Department of Chemistry, College of Applied Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah 21955, Saudi Arabia.
⁸ Water Pollution Research Department, National Research Centre, Giza 12622, Egypt.

Abstract

In this study, phenol formaldehyde-montmorillonite (PF-MMT) was prepared and used for lead ion (Pb²⁺) adsorption. Batch adsorption experiments were conducted to determine the optimal conditions. The calculated adsorption equilibrium (q) revealed that pseudo-second-order (PSO) and Langmuir isotherm models best fit the experimental data, suggesting chemisorption as the main mechanism. An adsorption capacity (q_max) of 243.9 mg/g was achieved. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analysis showed new peaks in PF-MMT-Pb, indicating metal complexation. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) imaging displayed distinct Pb²⁺ clusters on the adsorbent surface. Adsorption was rapid, attaining equilibrium within 90 min. Effects of time, dose, concentration, and pH were systematically investigated to optimize the process. Lead ion removal efficiency reached 98.33% under optimum conditions after 90 min. The adsorption process was chemisorption based on the Dubinin-Kaganer-Radushkevich model with a free energy of 14,850 J/mol. The substantial adsorption capacity, rapid kinetics, and high removal efficiency highlight PF-MMT's potential for effective Pb²⁺ removal from aqueous solution.