Original Articles: 2016 Vol: 8 Issue: 4
Kinetic modeling of Batch studies using mixed adsorbent prepared from Activated charcoal and Bone charcoal for the removal of Copper and Cadmium
Abstract
The present work researches the removal of Cu & Cd ions using mixed adsorbent prepared by blending activated
charcoal and bone charcoal in 1:1 ratio in batch studies. The batch adsorption studies have been carried out for 2
hrs considering all the 6 parameters by optimizing each of them. The effect of pH, temperature, initial metal
concentration, agitation (high speed rotation) rate, adsorbent dose and contact time were studied with respect to
reaction time until the achievement of equilibrium. The maximum removal for Cu (II) is 97.21% and Cd (II) is
78.76% obtained at 2 hrs for pH 6. The % removal for Cu varies from 87.16 to 99.74% at an adsorbent dosage of 5
g, pH 6, initial metal ion concentration of 50 mg/l, with an agitation rate of 180 rpm, and at a temperature of 25oC.
Similarly for Cd (II) it varies from 70.23 to 88.4% at 5 g respectively at the same operating conditions. At a
temperature of 40oC the % removal for Cu (II) is 99.75% and for Cd (II) it is 88%. The data obtained in the batch
study for the optimized parameters are studied through fitting of kinetic models such as Pseudo-first order and
Pseudo second order models at different optimized conditions for both Copper and Cadmium along with model
equations and Correlation / regression coefficient (R2) values. Finally it was concluded that the mixed adsorbent
prepared by blending activated charcoal and bone charcoal in 1:1 ratio can be taken as a best adsorbent for heavy
metal ion removal. These mixed adsorbent studies can be extended to various complex industrial effluents that
contains the concentration range of 100-200 ppm and can be applicable to know the interaction between various
parameters with respect to % removal in both batch and column studies.