Abstract
In the present study, titanium (IV) sulfide (TiS(2)) was synthesized and investigated for the removal of Cu(2+) and Pb(2+) ions from aqueous solutions. TiS(2) nanoparticles synthesized through a solvothermal synthesis were characterized using x-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The average particle size for the TiS(2) material was determined to be 8.03 ± 0.98 nm from the diffraction pattern. Studies were performed to examine the effects of pH, temperature, time, and interfering ions on the binding of Cu(2+) and Pb(2+) to the TiS(2). As well isotherm studies were performed to determine the binding capacity of TiS(2) for both Cu(2+) and Pb(2+) ions. The pH profile studies showed optimal binding occurred at pH 2 for the sorption of both Cu(2+) and Pb(2+) to the TiS(2). The isotherm studies showed the adsorption capacities at temperatures of 4, 22, and 45°C for Cu(2+) were 243, 222, and 153 mg/g, respectively. An opposite trend in the adsorption was observed for Pb(2+) binding to the TiS(2). The observed binding capacities for Pb(2+) were 32, 166, and 357 mg/g, at temperatures of 4, 22, and 45°C, respectively. The thermodynamic parameters for binding showed a non-spontaneous process for the sorption of Cu(2+) whereas a spontaneous binding process was observed for the sorption of Pb(2+). Additionally, the binding of Cu(2+) on TiS(2) in the presence of interfering ions (Na(+), K(+), Mg(2+), and/or Ca(2+)) was observed to decrease at high concentrations; however, the binding of Pb(2+) was unaffected by the presence of the same cations.