Sugar beet pulp generated by sugar-refining factories has been shown to be an effective adsorbent for the removal of heavy metals from aqueous solutions. The structural components related to the metallic adsorption being determined, batch adsorption studies were performed for several metal ions, namely, Pb2+, Cu2+, Zn2+, Cd2+, and Ni2+ cations. Two simple kinetic models, that is, pseudo-first- and pseudo-second-order, were tested to investigate the adsorption mechanisms. The kinetic parameters of the models were calculated and discussed. For an 8 x 10(-4) M initial metal concentration, the initial sorption rates (v0) ranged from 0.063 mmol x g(-1) x min(-1) for Pb2+ to 0.275 mmol x g(-1) x min(-1) for Ni2+ ions, in the order Ni2+ > Cd2+ > Zn2+ > Cu2+ > Pb2+. The equilibrium data fitted well with the Langmuir and Freundlich models and showed the following affinity order of the material: Pb2+ > Cu2+ > Zn2+ > Cd2+ > Ni2+. The metal removal was strongly dependent on pH and, to a lesser extent, ionic strength. Ion exchange with Ca2+ ions neutralizing the carboxyl groups of the polysaccharide was found to be the predominant mechanism, added with complexation for Pb2+, Cu2+, and Zn2+ metals.

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The adsorption of three metal ions, Cu(II), Ni(II), and Pb(II), is performed by activated carbon cloths (ACC). Two adsorbents, CS 1501 (with more than 96% of micropore volume) and RS 1301 (with 32% of mesopore volume), are studied. Batch experiments are carried out to assess kinetic and equilibrium parameters. They allow kinetic data, transfer coefficients, and maximum adsorption capacities to be computed. These parameters show the fast external film transfer of metal ions on fibers, because of their low diameter (10 μm). Intraparticular diffusion coefficients are lower than those obtained with a granular activated carbon, but maximum adsorption capacities agree with literature values for GAC. They show the dependency of adsorption on metal ion size and ACC porosity, the largest cation Pb(II) being more adsorbed by the mesoporous cloth. The pH effect is studied, and pH adsorption edges are determined. They are short, only 2 pH units, and located below the precipitation edges. A decrease of equilibrium pH with an increase of metal ion concentration, coupled with a regeneration study of saturated ACC by HCl, lead us to propose an adsorption mechanism by ion-exchange between metal cations and H+ ions at the ACC surface. Carboxylic groups seem especially involved in this mechanism, and precipitation between metal ions could happen.