Use of Novel and Environmental Friendly Natural Polymer and Its Alumina Nano-composite Synthesized from <i>Rhynchophorus phoenicis</i> in Waste Water Treatment

Novel and environmental friendly natural polymer and its Alumina nano-composite were synthesized from hard tissue of Rhynchophorus phoenicis gathered from palm trees at Omuoko community in Aluu, Ikwerre Local Government Area, Rivers state, Nigeria using standard methods. Dyes which are coloured organic compounds employed to put in colour onto cloth contaminate most of the water used. The natural polymer and its nano composite were used in Removal of dye from waste water. The investigation showed that chitosan (44.05 mg/g) has a lower adsorption capacity compared to alumina-chitosan composite (56.18 mg/g). This signifies that alumina-chitosan nano composite is a better adsorbent than chitosan. Batch adsorption tests of crystal violet dye confirmed that the adsorption process followed the pseudo-second-order kinetic model. The qe value ascertained for alumina-chitosan nanocomposite and chitosan for pseudo-second-order kinetic model, were 23.98 mg/g and 22.37 mg/g respectively. The optimum contact time for adsorption of crystal violet dye onto chitosan was attained at 40 minutes. Adsorption isotherms which are a very key tool for comprehending the circulation of the adsorbate on the adsorbent surface at equilibrium were used. Alumina-chitosan composite is better for the adsorption of crystal violet dye from wastewater than the chitosan. Going by the correlation coefficient, R2 values, the adsorption isotherm studies of crystal violet dye onto the chitosan and alumina-chitosan composite abided by the Langmuir isotherm model.