Selective separation of Cu(II) from a single metal ion solution by using O-amino thiophenol-modified flax fiber

A newly synthesized ortho-amino thio-phenol modified flax fibers (OATP-MFF) were prepared in two subsequent steps; at first flax fiber was pretreated with sodium periodate. Then the pretreated fibers were condensed with ortho-amino thio-phenol to form the modified flax fiber(OATP-MFF). The OATP-MFF was characterized by (FTIR) Fourier transform infrared spectra, SEM and energy-dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDX). The newly synthesized OATP-MFF chelating fibers were utilized for selective separation of Cu(II) from aqueous solution by adsorption methodology. The effects of pH, the initial concentration of metal ions, the adsorbent dosage, the interfering ions and the contact time on the adsorption capacity of OATP-MFF chelating fibers were investigated. The maximum adsorption capacity of Cu(II) at the optimum conditions was 92 mg/g. The adsorption process fitted well the second-order model kinetic of. The chemical (adsorption) reaction is the rate-limiting step that was proved from the kinetic model.