Fabrication Of Loofah Sponge as An Effective Natural Copper Sequestrant-The Inexpensive Approach

Abstract

Natural loofah sponges improved by chemical treatment for sequestration of toxic and recalcitrant heavy metal. Loofah sponges were modified using sodium hydroxide, acetic acid, potassium permanganate, sodium hematophosphate and, glycerol and showed about 17.23% increase in copper adsorption. The FTIR results confirmed the changes in functional groups from higher wavelength and lower transmittance in pristine sponges to lower wavelength and higher transmittance in modified loofah sponges, which confirms the chemicals incorporation in loofah sponges. XRD results proved the increase in crystallinity index and tensile strength of the modified loofah sponges. TG analysis shows the sturdiness of modified loofah sponges, about 33.1% mass of loofah sponges present noted at 700 ℃. SEM analysis proved the removal of impurities on surface of loofah sponge and EDX proved the presence of adsorbed copper in loofah sponges. The ICP-OES analysis showed, the modified loofah sponge adsorbed about 76.2 mg/g of copper. This study proved novel modified loofah sponge as an effective renewable copper sequestrant for remediation of heavy metals in contaminated sites, industrial discharges, and municipal water contaminated with heavy metals., however, longer-term testing is recommended.