Adsorption of Heavy Metals by Chopped Human Hair: An Equilibrium and Kinetic Study

Abstract

In this work, heavy metal adsorption by hair particles as adsorbents was studied and analyzed. The kinetic and isothermal studies were performed by optimizing the initial concentration and the pH. The adsorption isotherms of the majority of the metals are more suited to either the Langmuir or Freundlich models. The uptake capacity of hair material to absorb metals was found to be in the order of Pb2+ > Cu2+ > Zn2+. According to the adsorption data, metal ions adhere to hair particles as confirmed through a pseudo-second-order process. The kinetic study demonstrated that metal adsorption on hair particles involves both intraparticle diffusion and surface adsorption. According to the column studies, hair particles are more effective adsorbent for removing the heavy metals from aqueous solutions.