Abstract
The Algerian kaolin clay was investigated to remove Zn(II) heavy metal ion from aqueous solution. The effect of contact time, initial metal ion concentration, pH and temperature was experimentally studied in batch mode to evaluate the adsorption capacity, kinetic, thermodynamic and equilibrium. The extent of zinc adsorption increased with increasing initial concentration of adsorbat, pH and temperature. The linear Langmuir and Freundlich models were applied to describe equilibrium isotherms and both models fitted well. The monolayer adsorption capacity for Zn(II) ions was 12.23 mg per g of kaolin clay at pH 6.1 and 25°C. Dubinin-Radushkevich (D-R) isotherm model was also applied to the equilibrium data. Thermodynamic parameters showed that the adsorption of Zn(II) onto kaolin clay was spontaneous and endothermic process in nature. Furthermore, the Lagergren-first-order and pseudo-second-order models were used to describe the kinetic data. The experimental data fitted well the pseudo-second-order kinetic. As a result, the kaolin clay may be used for removal of zinc from aqueous media.
Highlights
Heavy metal contamination has become an environmental problem today in both developing and developed countries throughout the world [1,2]
The effect of contact time, initial metal ion concentration, pH and temperature was experimentally studied in batch mode to evaluate the adsorption capacity, kinetic, thermodynamic and equilibrium
A higher magnification micrograph of the same structure shows that the micro-size particles are composed of individual platelets, which conglomerate into larger size particles
Summary
Heavy metal contamination has become an environmental problem today in both developing and developed countries throughout the world [1,2]. Metal mining and metallurgy industrial departments produce large quantities of wastewater containing high concentration of Zn(II) [6,7]. The heavy metal levels in wastewater, drinking water, and water used for agriculture should be reduced to the maximum permissible concentration. Many methods such as ion exchange, precipitation, membrane processes and reverse osmosis have been used for the removal of toxic metal ions [9,10,11,12,13,14,15]. Many studies have focused on seeking cheap, locally available and effective adsorbents, such as waste biopolymers, clays and clay minerals [16]
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