Kinetics and Equilibrium Models for Sorption of Cu(II) onto a Novel Manganese Nano-adsorbent

Abstract

The studies of kinetics and equilibrium sorption of Cu(II) were undertaken using nanoscale zerovalent manganese (nZVMn) synthesized by chemical reduction in a single pot system. nZVMn was characterized using scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive x-ray, and surface area determined by Brunauer–Emmett–Teller. The effect of pH, contact time, adsorbent dose, agitation speed, initial Cu(II) concentrations, temperature, and ionic strength on the sorption of Cu(II) onto nZVMn were investigated in a batch system. The kinetic data followed pseudo-second-order. The mechanism was governed by pore diffusion. The equilibrium sorption data were tested by Freundlich, Langmuir, Temkin, Dubinin–Kaganer–Raduskevich, and Halsey isotherm models. The Langmuir monolayer adsorption capacity (Qmax = 181.818 mg/g) is much greater compared to other nano-adsorbents used in sorption of Cu(II). The thermodynamic parameters (ΔH0, ΔS0, ΔG0) revealed a feasible, spontaneous, and endothermic adsorption process. nZVMn has a great potential for effective removal of copper (II) in aqueous solution.