Detoxification of lead (pb²⁺) from simulated and real apple juice using chitosan/bacterial cellulose/MIL-100(Fe) aerogel microbeads

In this study, several types of aerogel beads were prepared using different ratios of chitosan (CS), bacterial cellulose nanofibers (BCN), and the MIL-100(Fe) metal-organic framework. The prepared beads were then compared in terms of their mechanical stability in water (percentage of retained weight) and lead removal efficiency from simulated apple juice to select the most effective adsorbent for further investigation. The aerogel bead CS–BCN (90:10)–MIL-100(50%) was identified as the most effective adsorbent and was used to remove Pb²⁺ ions from both simulated and real apple juice. The effects of contact time, lead concentration, and adsorbent content on Pb²⁺ adsorption were assessed. The effect of integrating MIL-100(Fe) on the surface area, average pore width, and total pore volume of the beads was revealed by the BET (Brunauer, Emmett, and Teller) analysis. Lead adsorption on the beads was confirmed by energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). The results showed that 95.6% of Pb²⁺ (10 mg/L) was adsorbed after 24 hours using 2.5 mg of CS/BCN/MIL beads in an apple juice simulant. Lead adsorption behavior on the beads was well-characterized by the pseudo-second-order kinetic model and the Langmuir isotherm model. Recyclability studies demonstrated that CS–BCN (90:10)–MIL-100(50%) beads maintained their high lead removal efficiency even after three cycles.