Interaction of 2, 4-Dinitrophenol (2, 4-DNP) and 2, 4, 6-Trinitrophenol (2, 4, 6-TNP) with Metal Hexacyanoferrate (II) Complexes

Antimony, cadmium and zirconium hexacyanoferrates (II) were synthesized and characterized by elemental and spectral studies. Interaction of 2, 4-dinitrophenol (2, 4-DNP) and 2, 4, 6-trinitrophenol (2, 4, 6-TNP) with antimony, cadmium and zirconium hexacyanoferrates (II) have been studied at neutral pH (7.00 ± 0.01) and a temperature of 30 ± 1°C. The progress of adsorption was followed spectrophotometrically by measuring the absorbance of substituted phenols at their corresponding λmax. The nature of adsorption has been interpreted from the shape of adsorption isotherms. The Langmuir type of adsorption is followed in the concentration range of 10-3 – 10-4 M of 2, 4-DNP and 2, 4, 6-TNP solutions. The 2, 4, 6 -TNP was found to have greater affinity for the antimony, cadmium and zirconium hexacyanoferrates (II) than 2, 4 – DNP. High adsorption capacity has been observed for cadmium hexacyanoferrate (II) while it is minimum with zirconium hexacyanoferrate (II), which indicate highly porous characteristics of cadmium hexacyanoferrate (II) in comparison to other metal hexacyanoferrates (II) studied. Removal of toxic phenol is necessary for the protection of our environment. Phenols react with soil to reduce their fertility therefore its removal from soil is also important for our food security.