Synthesis, Characterization and Sorption Behaviour of Novel Ion Exchange Material, Its Analytical Application for the Treatment of Industrial Waste Waters

Industrial wastewater containing toxic heavy metal ions presents a significant environmental and public health challenge, necessitating the development of efficient, selective, and reusable treatment materials. In this study, a novel composite ion exchange material was synthesized by a chemical precipitation method followed by surface functionalization to introduce active ion-exchange sites. The synthesized material was comprehensively characterized using FTIR, XRD, SEM–EDX, TGA, BET surface area analysis, and pHₚzc measurements to evaluate its structural, morphological, thermal, and surface properties. Batch adsorption experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of pH, contact time, adsorbent dosage, initial metal ion concentration, temperature, and competing ions on sorption performance. Equilibrium data were successfully interpreted using Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models, while adsorption kinetics followed pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-order models. Thermodynamic analysis confirmed that the adsorption process was spontaneous and predominantly endothermic. The developed ion exchange material exhibited high cation exchange capacity, rapid adsorption kinetics, excellent selectivity, and superior adsorption performance for Pb(II), Cd(II), Cu(II), Ni(II), Cr(VI), and Zn(II) ions. Furthermore, the material retained over 90% of its adsorption efficiency after multiple regeneration cycles, demonstrating excellent stability and reusability. Its practical applicability was validated through the treatment of real industrial wastewater from electroplating, textile, and metal-finishing industries, achieving substantial reductions in heavy metal concentrations to within permissible discharge limits. Overall, the synthesized composite ion exchange material proved to be an efficient, cost-effective, and environmentally sustainable adsorbent with significant potential for industrial wastewater treatment, heavy metal ion separation, and environmental remediation.