CuO nanopowder for removal of Pb(II) and Zn(II)

Abstract

Metal oxide nanopowder, namely copper oxide nanopowder, was prepared. The produced metal oxide was characterised and used as a potential adsorbent for removal of lead(II) and zinc(II) from an aqueous solution. The rate of uptake of lead(II) and zinc(II) was found to be rapid in the first 10 min, and after 150 min, the amount of lead(II) and zinc(II) adsorbed was almost constant. The time of equilibrium is independent of initial concentration. The results showed that the removal of lead(II) increased significantly as the pH increased from 2·0 to 6·0 and approached a plateau at a pH range of 6·0–9·0, whereas the removal of zinc(II) increased significantly as the pH increased from 2·0 to 9·0. The adsorption of lead(II) and zinc(II) onto copper oxide followed the Langmuir isotherm. The pseudo-second-order kinetic model provided good correlation for the adsorption of both lead(II) and zinc(II).