A Comparative Study Of Removal Of CuII From Aqueous Solutions By Thermally And Sulphuric Acid Activated Sesamum Indicum Carbons

Abstract Adsorption efficiencies of activated carbons prepared from oil cake of Sesamum Indicum by thermal and sulphuric acid activation were investigated for the removal of CuII ions from aqueous solutions. Various parameters as a function of contact time initial pH initial adsorbent dosage and metal ion concentrations were studied. The optimum time required for the maximum removal of CuII was found to be 1 hr for TAGOC and 2 hrs for STGOC. The equilibrium adsorption data were fitted to Langmuir and Freundlich adsorption isotherm models. The equilibrium adsorption isotherms showed that activated carbon has high affinity and sorption capacity for CuII with monolayer sorption capacities of 44.92 mgg for TAGOC and 35.97 mgg for STGOC. The kinetic studies indicated that the pseudo-second order rate equation better described the adsorption process. The adsorbent efficiency was also tested for the removal of CuII CdII NiII and ZnII from synthetic electroplating wastewater. The results indicated that the prepared both activated carbons are efficient 99.9 alternative low-cost adsorbent for the removal of CuII and other metal ions from wastewater..