Removal of Cu2+ Ions from Aqueous Medium Using Clinoptilolite/Emeraldine Base Composite

The aim of this study was to investigate the removal efficiency of in situ synthesized composites consisted of emeraldine base and clinoptilolite on copper ions removal from aqueous medium. Two composite materials (Composite I and Composite II) with different quantity of clinoptilolite were synthesised. The influence of the composite dosage, the contact time and the initial copper ions concentration has been studied. The results show that the significant removal of the copper ions becomes at the first minute of the contact between the composite material and the aqueous medium and the longer contact time leads to increasing of the copper ions removal. The removal efficiency at the 1st minute was 57.5% and 77.3% using Composite I and Composite II, respectively. Maximum removal efficiency of 87.3% and 96.8% was achieved at the same dosage of Composite I and Composite II, respectively, at contact time of 360 minutes and temperature of 24 °C.