Removal of Copper (II) Ions from Aqueous Solution Using Pine Activated Carbon

Abstract

The discharge of high amounts of heavy metals into water bodies leads to several environmental and health impacts. To help mitigate the negative impacts of heavy metals (such as copper ions) on the humans and animal's health as well as finding of a variety processes to remediate the environment. Adsorption is an essential process that can be applied in wastewater treatment. This work aims to investigate the removal of copper ions (II) from aqueous solutions using low-cost and eco-friendly material such as activated carbon (AC). Thermal activated carbon was prepared from Pine trees. The adsorption of Cu (II) ions from aqueous solutions onto Activated Carbon (AC) was investigated. The experiments were performed in a batch system, at room temperature (20 ± 0.5 °C), and the copper ions analysis was done after equilibrium was attained. Different experimental parameters (initial Cu (II) concentration, pH, sorbent dosage, and contact time) were varied in order to establish the optimum conditions for copper removal using AC. The experimental results were fitted using the Langmuir, and Freundlich isotherm models, and the characteristic adsorption parameters were determined. Experimental data were also tested using two kinetic models: the pseudo-first-order model and the pseudo-second-order model. Based on these models, the kinetic parameters (rate constant and equilibrium adsorption capacity) for Cu (II) adsorption on AC were calculated.