PREPARATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF ALUMINIUM SILICATE BY GREEN SYNTHESIS AND ITS APPLICATION IN REMOVAL OF PB CD HG FROM WASTE WATER

Povzetek

Aluminium silicate is a promising adsorbent for heavy metal removal due to its high surface area, stability, and eco-friendly nature. This study explores the green synthesis of aluminium silicate using sustainable precursors and evaluates its efficiency in removing Pb²⁺, Cd²⁺, and Hg²⁺ from wastewater. The synthesized material was characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) surface area analysis, and zeta potential measurements. Batch adsorption studies were conducted to determine the effect of pH, contact time, adsorbent dosage, and initial metal ion concentration on removal efficiency. The results demonstrated high adsorption capacities for Pb²⁺ (96%), Cd²⁺ (93%), and Hg²⁺ (98%) under optimal conditions, following the Langmuir isotherm and pseudo-second-order kinetics. Thermodynamic studies revealed that the adsorption process is spontaneous and endothermic. Compared to conventional synthetic methods, the green-synthesized aluminium silicate showed improved performance while reducing environmental impact. These findings suggest that aluminium silicate synthesized via green chemistry can serve as a cost-effective, sustainable, and highly efficient adsorbent for heavy metal removal in wastewater treatment applications.