Adsorption of Copper Ions (Cu++) in Aqueous Solution Using Activated Carbon and Biosorbent from Indian Jujube (Ziziphus mauritiana) Seed Hulls

Abstract

The present work aimed at mitigating the level of copper ions (Cu++) by adsorption in aqueous solution using activated carbon powder (AC) and biosorbent (BS) from the Indian jujube seed hulls. The AC and BS were prepared from the Indian jujube seed hulls and characterized    using standard procedures. In addition, the adsorption effects of Indian jujube seed hulls through the AC and BS were carried out using jar test experiment (batch mode) at different pH (1, 2, 3, and 4), ionic strengths (100-600 mg/L) and stirring speed (120rpm). Therefore, it was found that the adsorption time at equilibrium were 10 and 5 minutes respectively for the AC and the BS.  Furthermore, it was found that the reduction of copper ions were 99.40% and 73.08% for aqueous solutions of 100 ppm and 500 ppm respectively at the equilibrium state. It was also revealed that when the mass of the AC or the BS increases, the quantities of ions adsorbed per gram decrease. The maximum pH of adsorption for the AC was found to be pH=1, while it was found to be pH=4 for the BS. The Freundlich model indicated that the adsorption of copper ions by the Indian jujube is linear while the Temkin and Dubinin-Kagana-Radushkevich models described the adsorption as a physical reaction. It was finally observed that the adsorption of copper ions by the AC and the BS from Indian jujube seed hulls influenced by the addition of some concentration of NaCl.