Investigation on the Sulfadiazine Schiff Base Adsorption Ability of Y(III) Ions from Nitrate Solutions, Kinetics, and Thermodynamic Studies

ABSTRACT Sulfadiazine Schiff base (SDSB) was prepared using an inexpensive technique by modification of sulfadiazine drug (SD) to be used as an adsorbent material for recovery of Y(III) ions from aqueous solutions. Chemical and physical characterizations of SDSB were performed using different techniques. The maximum static adsorption capacity of the modified SD was 0.9 mmolg−1 for Y(III) ions and at pH 5.0. The kinetics results revealed that the sorption of Y(III) ions upon the synthesized SDSB followed the pseudo-second-order with R2 of >0.999. Temkin, Dubinin – Radushkevich, Freundlich, and Langmuir models accurately described the adsorption isotherm data. The activation energy (Ea) for adsorption was 17.52 kJmol−1, indicating the process is to be chemisorption. Thermodynamic characteristics with ΔHo of 11.33 kJmol−1 and a ΔSo 110.2 Jmol−1K−1. Using FT-IR and EDAX analysis proved the yttrium adsorption upon the SDSB. The desorption process for Y(III) ions was successfully achieved using 1 M HNO3 and it reduced from 95% to 70% after five consecutive cycles. A pre-concentration process for yttrium ions presented in a waste solution was achieved using SDSB adsorbent with a pre-concentration factor of about 10. As a result, it is regarded as a promising adsorbent for Y(III) ions in a variety of industrial applications.