Kinetics of sorption and desorption of copper(II) and lead (II) on activated carbon

Abstract

ABSTRACT: The rate of sorption of copper(II) and lead(II) onto activated carbons Nuchar SA and Filtrasorb 400 was observed to occur rapidly at the outset, followed by a slow and prolonged sorption. This indicates that previous sorption studies conducted for short equilibration periods likely underestimated the actual capacity of activated carbon for heavy metals. Although copper and lead ions desorbed from the activated carbon surface rapidly, the rate of desorption of lead was slower, prevailing over several days. Sorption of copper and lead ions on Nuchar SA was found to be fully reversible.