Adsorption of Copper (II) from Aqueous Solution Using Tea (Camellia sinensis) Leaf Waste

Abstract

The extensive use of heavy metals such as copper in various industries has discharged a large amount of the metals into the environment which is toxic at higher concentrations. The use of low-cost agricultural waste of biological origin such as tea waste may be an economic solution to this problem. Tea waste is among the potential material to be developed as an adsorbent for heavy metal ions. Tea waste contains cellulose and lignin which have been reported having an excellent metal binding capacity. This study aims to use tea waste for the removal of Cu2+ ions. The effect of variation in different parameters like initial concentration of Cu2+ ions in solution, adsorbent dosage and contact time were investigated using batch adsorption method. The adsorbent, tea waste was characterized using a compound microscope and FTIR spectroscopy. Experimental results showed that the maximum removal of the copper ion by tea waste at optimum condition (pH 7, 60 min. contact time, 0.8 g adsorbent dose and 0.7 M concentration) is 74%. The adsorbent prepared from tea waste is efficient and it can be conveniently employed as a low-cost alternative in the treatment of wastewater for heavy metal removal.