Utilizing innovative synthetic Schiff base adsorbent for zirconium adsorption from zircon concentrate and nano-porous zirconium oxide production

A novel adsorbent, 6,6′,6″-((benzene-1,3,5-triyltris(azaneylylidene))tris(methaneylylidene))tris(2-ethoxyphenol) (BAMP), was synthesized through a condensation method and evaluated for its potential to adsorb Zirconium ions from aqueous solutions. The synthesized adsorbent underwent characterization using FTIR, BET, 1HNMR, 13 C-NMR, and GC-Mass analysis. Various operational parameters, including pH, ionic strength, equilibrium time, initial concentration, and temperature, were systematically investigated in batch mode. The highest sorption efficiency was achieved at pH 2, with a 90-minute contact time and a dose of 0.08, at room temperature. The adsorption of Zr(IV) ions onto the synthesized BAMP was best described by the Freundlich and Temkin isotherm models. The adsorption process for Zr(IV) ions was found to be spontaneous, as evidenced by the negative value of ΔG° calculated across all temperatures. The positive value of ΔH° indicated that the adsorption of Zr(IV) ions onto BAMP is an endothermic process, while the positive value of ΔS° suggested that the adsorption occurs randomly. The novel adsorbent exhibited remarkable adsorption capability, with a maximum adsorption capacity of 344.83 mg/g for Zr(IV) at ambient temperature. Adsorption kinetics data were well described by the pseudo-second-order equation, intra-particle diffusion rate, and Elovich models. Furthermore, successful recovery of Zr(IV) from zircon mineral concentrate samples from Jabal Tuwalah Intrusion, Medina Region, Saudi Arabia, served as a foundation for the production of nano-porous zirconium oxide using 1-propanol as a surfactant. The resulting white precipitate of nano-porous zirconium oxide underwent characterization using XRD, EDX, TGA, and TEM.