Removal of copper (ii)‎ from wastewater using low cost biosorbent

Abstract EN

The biosorption of copper (II) ions from wastewater by an unconventional adsorbent wood sawdust was studied as a function of different environmental parameters such as pH, contact time, adsorbent dose and initial Cu (II) ions concentrations.

Adsorption was carried out in a batch process and it was observed that, the favorable pH for maximum Cu (II) adsorption was at 5.5 .

For the investigated Cu (II) concentrations (5-100 mg / l), maximum adsorption rates were achieved almost in the 15-30 min.

of contact time.

An adsorbent dose of 10 g / L was optimum for Cu (II) removal within an equilibrium time 60 min.

For all contact times, an increase in Cu (II) concentration resulted in decrease in the percent of Cu (II) removal (96.4 %-55 %), and an increase in adsorption capacity (0.48 -5.5 mg / g).

The equilibrium adsorption data were best fitted with the Langmuir isotherm model (R2 = 0.9937) the maximum adsorption capacity obtained is 5.71 mg / g.

The kinetics of Cu (II) adsorption was very well described by the pseudo-second- order kinetic model (R2 > 0.999).

Scanning electron microscope SEM study revealed clearly the presence of asymmetric pores and open pore structure in wood sawdust before adsorption.

However, after Cu (II) ions adsorption the micrographs revealed the presence of more dense of closed pore structures.

FTIR study revealed clearly the presence of several functional groups, which are able to bind with Cu (II) ions in the wood sawdust.

The sawdust was found to be cost effective and has good efficiency to remove Cu (II) metal ions from wastewater.