Waste printing paper as analogous adsorbents for heavy metals in aqueous solution

Waste printing paper (WPP) is an abundant local waste material that requires end-use channelling to reduce environmental pollution. In the present study, removal of cadmium (II) (Cd2+), copper (II) (Cu2+), nickel (II) (Ni2+) and lead (II) ions (Pb2+) from aqueous solution by WPP at varying incubating period, metal dosage and chemical modification with hydrogen peroxide were studied. In addition, desorption capacity of three solvents, distilled water (dil.H2O), 0.1M nitric acid, (HNO3), and ethylenediaminetetracetic acid (EDTA) was evaluated for possible recovery of Pb2+. The results showed WPP has adsorption efficacy of >90.0% and metal uptake of ≤ 25 mg/g for the assessed metal ions. There was high effect of metal dosage and contact time on WPP adsorption efficacy for the metal ions. Hydrogen peroxide treatment has negative effect on the WPP adsorption efficacy for Cd and Ni (II) ions, necessitating FTIR of WPP for possible functional groups distortion. The eluents used could recover <50 % adsorbed Pb2+ from WPP. WPP has potential as good adsorbent for heavy metals uptake from aqueous solutions but the recovery efficacy as economic and environmental concern requires further investigation.