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Theoretical analysis of the adsorption of metal ions to the surface of melanin particles

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Abstract

We have re-examined the problem of the interaction of melanins with metal ions. Metal ions are normal constituents of the pigment, but in some cases they can be related to pathologies, mainly at the level of the skin (Cu2+ and Fe3+) and of the central nervous system (Fe2+ and Mn2+). Our approach has been based on the mechanisms of adsorption on the particle surface, by the use of theoretical adsorption isotherms and kinetic models. Although this analysis doesn’t give detailed information on the specific sites involved, it is useful to better characterize the surface behaviour of the colloidal melanin. The results obtained demonstrate that the affinity of melanin for metal ions is very high, comparable to the most efficient materials employed in decontamination and recovery techniques. Moreover, our results demonstrate that three-parameters models, such as Langmuir-Freundlich, Redlich-Peterson and Tóth equations, fit the experimental data with great accuracy and that the adsorption follows pseudo-second-order kinetics.

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Abbreviations

a :

Adsorption rate in the Elovich equation (mmol⋅g−1⋅min−1)

a t :

Inverse of the adsorptive potential constant in the Tóth equation (dm3⋅mg−1)

b :

Desorption constant in the Elovich equation (g⋅mmol−1)

C :

Equilibrium concentration of ions in solution (mmol⋅dm−3)

E :

Free energy of sorption (J⋅mmol−1)

k 1 :

Pseudo-1° order rate constant

k 2 :

Pseudo-2° order rate constant

k p :

Rate constant for intraparticle diffusion

K :

Constant in the Langmuir, Freundlich and Langmuir-Freundlich isotherms (dm3⋅mmol−1)

K F :

Freundlich constant (dm3⋅g−1)

K R :

Redlich-Peterson constant (g−1)

K S :

Sips constant

K 1 :

1° Temkin constant

K 2 :

2° Temkin constant (dm3⋅mmol−1)

q :

Amount of adsorbed ions (mmol⋅g−1)

q 0 :

Monolayer adsorption capacity (mmol⋅g−1)

q e :

Amount of adsorbed ions at equilibrium (mmol⋅g−1)

q m :

Adsorption capacity (mmol⋅g−1)

R :

Gas constant (J⋅mol−1⋅K−1)

t :

Tóth heterogeneity coefficient

T :

Absolute temperature (K)

1/n :

Freundlich heterogeneity index

α :

Affinity coefficient (dm3⋅g−1)

β :

Constant in the Dubinin-Radushkevich isotherm (mmol2⋅J−2)

γ :

Heterogeneity coefficient

ε :

Polany potential (J⋅mmol−1)

τ :

Time (min)

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physics, University of Parma, V. le G.P. Usberti 7/A, Parco Area delle Scienze, 43100, Parma, Italy

    Maria Grazia Bridelli & Pier Raimondo Crippa

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  1. Maria Grazia Bridelli
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  2. Pier Raimondo Crippa
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Correspondence to Pier Raimondo Crippa.

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Bridelli, M.G., Crippa, P.R. Theoretical analysis of the adsorption of metal ions to the surface of melanin particles. Adsorption 14, 101–109 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10450-007-9059-8

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