Fast Removal of Co2+ and Ni2+ from Aqueous Solution Using Partial Carbonized Nanoporous Resin

Partial carbonized nanoporous resin (PCNR-150), based on organic xerogel compounds, was prepared at 150 oC by sol–gel method from pyrogallol and formaldehyde mixtures in water using perchloric acid as catalyst. The PCNR-150 was characterized by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and nitrogen porosimetry. The metal uptake characteristics were explored using well-established and effective parameters including pH, contact time, initial metal ion concentration, and temperature. Optimum adsorptions of Co2+ and Ni2+, using PCNR-150 as adsorbent, were observed at pH 5 and 7, respectively. Langmuir model gave a better fit than the other models, and kinetic studies revealed that the adsorption is fast and its data are well fitted by the pseudo-second-order kinetic model and thermodynamic properties, i.e., DGo, DHo, and DSo, showed that adsorption of Co2+ and Ni2+ onto PCNR-150 was endothermic, spontaneous and feasible in the temperature range of 300–328 K.