Removal of Al (III) and Fe (III) from binary system and industrial effluent using chitosan films

Adsorption of Al (III) and Fe (III) onto chitosan films from individual and binary systems were investigated. The matrix effect was evaluated using an industrial effluent of the scrubber of gases from the production process of Al2(SO4)3. The adsorption study was carried out by response surface methodology to optimize the adsorption operation as a function of pH (3, 4.5 and 6) and film dosage (FD) (100, 200 and 300 mg L−1).The possible interactions film-ions were investigated by thermal analysis, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and dispersive energy X-ray spectroscopy. The more suitable conditions for all experimental designs were the FD values in 100 mg L−1and pH 4.5.The adsorption capacity of Fe (III) in the individual and binary systems were 140.2 mg g−1 and 132.3 mg g−1 respectively; however, in the experiment conducted on the real effluent, the adsorption capacity was reduced to 66.30 mg g−1.Already to Al (III), the adsorption capacities in the individual and binary systems were 665.5 mg g−1 to 621.2 mg g−1 respectively, and when the operation was performed using real effluent the adsorption capacity was reduced to 275.7 mg g−1. •Matrix effects in Al (III) and Fe (III) adsorption onto chitosan films were analyzed.•Individual and binary systems, and real effluents were evaluated by response surface methodology.•The gas scrubber effluent from the production of Al2(SO3)4 was used in this work.•For both ions, the matrix effect was more pronounced when real effluent was utilized.•Analysis showed alterations in the film structures when real effluent was utilized.