Highly efficient low-cost adsorbent was applied for copper (II) ions uptake from aqueous solution. Characteristics of natural adsorbent were established using scanning X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray fluorescence, electron microscope (SEM) and Fourier Transform Infra-Red (FTIR). Various physicochemical parameters such as contact time, initial copper(II) ions concentration, adsorbent dosage, pH of copper (II) ions solution and temperature were investigated. The result showed that the adsorption of copper (II) ions by natural clay was favorable at pH=5,5. The adsorption was found to increase with increase in initial copper (II) ions concentration, and contact time. Equilibrium adsorption data were fitted using three isotherms and kinetic data tested with four kinetic models. Freundlich isotherm best described the adsorption of copper (II) ions onto utilised clay, the maximum monolayer adsorption capacity (qmax) was 8 mg/g. Pseudo-second-order model best described the kinetics of the adsorption process. Thermodynamic parameters such as Gibbs free energy, enthalpy and entropy were determined. It was found that copper (II) ions adsorption was spontaneous (ΔG°<0) and endothermic (ΔH°>0).

No abstract

No abstract