Removal of metal ions from aqueous solution by adsorption onto activated carbon cloths: adsorption competition with organic matter

Activated carbon cloths are recent adsorbents whose adsorption properties are well known for monocomponent solutions of organics or metal ions. However, to treat wastewaters with these materials, their performance has to be determined in multicomponent solution. This work studies adsorption competition between metal ions (Cu²⁺, Pb²⁺) and organic matter (benzoic acid). The first part investigates adsorption equilibrium of monocomponent metal ions solutions and shows the dependence of adsorption capacities on adsorbent porosity and metal ions chemical properties (molecular weight, ionic radius and electronegativity). The influence of pH is also demonstrated. The second part focuses on adsorption competition: (1) between both metal ions (a decrease of adsorption capacities is observed, whose value is related to adsorption kinetics of metal ions); (2) between metal ions and organic matter, in solution or adsorbed onto the activated carbon cloth (a strong influence of pH is shown: when benzoic acid is under benzoate form, in both cases adsorption is increased due to the formation of ligands between adsorbed benzoate ions and metals).     

Adsorption of Cd(II), Hg(II) and Zn(II) from aqueous solution using mesoporous activated carbon produced from Bambusa vulgaris striata

Mesoporous activated carbon (surface area of 608 m²/g) has achieved high efficiency in removal of cadmium, mercury and zinc ions from water solution. The proposed low-cost adsorbent was physically activated with water steam from the bamboo species Bambusa vulgaris striata. The batch studies suggested an activated carbon dose of 0.6 g/L, solution pH of 9 and an equilibrium time of 16 h in static conditions. The pseudo-second order equations represented the adsorption kinetics with high correlation. Fitting of the experimental results to the Langmuir, Freundlich, Redlich–Peterson and Toth isotherm models showed an almost homogeneous surface coverage and presence of physical adsorption. The highest adsorption capacities, calculated from the Langmuir model, are 239.45, 248.05 and 254.39 mg/g of cadmium, mercury and zinc, respectively.     

Bioadsorption of Pb(II), Cd(II), and Cr(VI) on activated carbon from aqueous solutions

The bioadsorption of Pb(II), Cd(II), and Cr(VI) using bacteria and activated carbon has been studied. Preliminary studies yielded the chemical and textural characterization of the carbons. The adsorption of bacteria on the activated carbons modified their surface characteristics, reducing the volume of pores and the pH of the point of zero charge, with a resulting increase in the density of the negative charge of their surface. The adsorption of the above metals was studied in both static and dynamic conditions and in the absence and presence of bacteria (Escherichia coli). The presence of bacteria in aqueous solution enhances the adsorption of Pb(II) and Cd(II) and reduces the adsorption of Cr(VI). These results can be explained by changes in the surface charge density of the carbons when bacteria are adsorbed, and by considering the structural and chemical characteristics of the bacterial cell walls. Investigation of the effect of electrolytes on the bioadsorption of these metals showed, in general, a resulting reduction in the amount of metal adsorbed, mainly in the presence of divalent cations. According to the divalent cation bridging theory, these results derive from competition between the Pb(II) or Cd(II) cations and the electrolyte cations for the negatively charged functional groups of extracellular polymeric substances.     

Cadmium and zinc adsorption onto activated carbon: Influence of temperature,pH and metal/carbon ratio

The adsorption characteristics of cadmium and zinc onto a granular activated carbon were studied. Cadmium and zinc removals increased on raising pH and temperature, and decreased on raising the molar metal/carbon ratio. The adsorption processes were modelled using the surface complex formation (SCF) Triple Layer Model (TLM) with an overall bidentate species. A dependence of the SCF constant on pH, the molar metal/carbon ratio and temperature was observed, and a correlation for log K_ads was determined. The SCF model successfully predicted cadmium and zinc removals.     

Study of the Adsorption of Cd and Zn onto an Activated Carbon: Influence of pH,Cation Concentration,and Adsorbent Concentration

Abstract

The single adsorption of Cd and Zn from aqueous solutions has been investigated on Scharlau Ca 346 granular activated carbon in a wide range of experimental conditions: pH, metal concentration, and carbon concentration. The results showed the efficiency of the activated carbon as sorbent for both metals. Metal removals increase on raising the pH and carbon concentration, and decrease on raising the initial metal concentration. The adsorption processes have been modeled using the surface complex formation (SCF) Triple Layer Model (TLM). The adsorbent TLM parameters were determined. Modeling has been performed assuming a single surface bidentate species or an overall surface species with fractional stoichiometry. The bidentate stoichiometry successfully predicted cadmium and zinc removals in all the experimental conditions. The Freundlich isotherm has been also checked.     

Removal of Cd（II） by Nanometer AIO（OH） Loaded on Fiberglass with Activated Carbon Fiber Felt as Carrier

A new nanometer material, nanometer AlO（OH） loaded on the fiberglass with activated carbon fibers felt（ACF） as the carrier, was prepared by hydrolytic reaction for the removal of Cd（II） from aqueous solution using column adsorption experiment. As was confirmed by XRD determination, the hydrolysis production loaded on fiberglass was similar to the orthorhombic phase AlO（OH）. SEM images showed that AlO（OH） particles were in the form of small aggregated clusters. The Thomas model was applied for estimating the kinetic parameters and the saturated adsorption ability of Cd（II） adsorption on the new adsorbent. The results showed that the maximum adsorption capacity of Cd（II） was 128.50 mg·g^-1 and 117.86 mg·g^-1 for the adsorbent mass of 0.3289 g and the adsorbent mass of 0.2867 g, respectively. The elution experiment result indicated that the adsorbed Cd ions was easily desorbed from the material with 0.1 mol·L^-1 HCl solution. Adsorption-desorption cycles showed the feasibility of repealed uses of the composited material. The adsorption capacities were influenced by pH and the initial Cd（II） concentration. The amount adsorbed was greatest at pH 6.5 and the initial Cd（II） concentration of 0.07 mg·L^-1, respectively. Nanometer AlO（OH） played a major role in the adsorption process, whereas the fiberglass and ACF were assistants in the process of removing Cd（II）. In addition, the adsorption capacities for Cd（II） were obviously reduced from 128.50 mg·L^-1 to 64.28 mg·L^-1 when Pb ions were present because Pb ions took up more adsorption sites.     

The use of exhausted olive cake ash (EOCA) as a low cost adsorbent for the removal of toxic metal ions from aqueous solutions

The removal characteristics of cadmium (Cd(II)) and nickel (Ni(II)) ions from aqueous solution by exhausted olive cake ash (EOCA) were investigated under various conditions of contact time, pH, initial metal concentration and temperature. Batch kinetic studies showed that an equilibrium time of 2 h was required for the adsorption of Ni(II) and Cd(II) onto EOCA. Equilibrium adsorption is affected by the initial pH (pH₀) of the solution. The pH₀ 6.0 is found to be the optimum for the individual removal of Cd(II) and Ni(II) ions by EOCA. The adsorption test of applying EOCA into synthetic wastewater revealed that the adsorption data of this material for nickel and cadmium ions were better fitted to the Langmuir isotherm since the correlation coefficients for the Langmuir isotherm were higher than that for the Freundlich isotherm. The estimated maximum capacities of nickel and cadmium ions adsorbed by EOCA were 8.38 and 7.32 mg g⁻¹, respectively. The thermodynamic parameters for the adsorption process data were evaluated using Langmuir isotherm. The free energy change (ΔG°) and the enthalpy change (ΔH°) showed that the process was feasible and endothermic respectively. As the exhausted olive cake is discarded as waste from olive processing, the adsorbent derived from this material is expected to be an economical product for metal ion remediation from water and wastewater.     

Adsorption of cadmium ions from aqueous solutions by activated carbon with oxygen-containing functional groups

The adsorption of aqueous cadmium ions (Cd(II)) have been investigated for modified activated carbon (AC-T) with oxygen-containing functional groups. The oxygen-containing groups of AC-T play an important role in Cd(II) ion adsorption onto AC-T. The modified activated carbon is characterized by scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The results of batch experiments indicate that the maximal adsorption could be achieved over the broad pH range of 4.5 to 6.5. Adsorption isotherms and kinetic study suggest that the sorption of Cd(II) onto AC-T produces monolayer coverage and that adsorption is controlled by chemical adsorption. And the adsorbent has a good reusability. According to the FT-IR and XPS analyses, electrostatic attraction and cation exchange between Cd(II) and oxygen-containing functional groups on AC-T are dominant mechanisms for Cd(II) adsorption.     

Effect of ZnO loading to activated carbon on Pb(II) adsorption from aqueous solution

The effect of zinc oxide loading to granular activated carbon on Pb(II) adsorption from aqueous solution was studied in comparison with zinc oxide particles and oxidized activated carbon. Cu(II), Cd(II) and nitrobenzene were used as reference adsorbates to investigate the adsorption. The BET surface area and point of zero charge (pH_PZC) in the aqueous solution were measured for the adsorbents. The adsorption isotherms were examined to characterize the adsorption of heavy metals and organic molecules. The heavy metal adsorption was improved by both the zinc oxide loading and the oxidation of activated carbon. In contrast, the adsorption of nitrobenzene was considerably reduced by the oxidation, and slightly decreased by the zinc oxide loading. The zinc oxide loading to the activated carbon was found to be effectively used for the Pb(II) adsorption whereas only a part of surface functional groups was used for the zinc oxide particles and the oxidized activated carbon. From the experimental results, the surface functional groups responsible for the Pb(II) adsorption on the zinc oxide loaded activated carbon were considered to be hydroxyl groups that formed on the oxide, while those on the oxidized activated carbon were considered to be carboxylic groups.     

Preparation and characterization of magnetic polymethylmethacrylate microbeads carrying ethylene diamine for removal of Cu(II), Cd(II), Pb(II), and Hg(II) from aqueous solutions

Magnetic polymethylmethacrylate (mPMMA) microbeads carrying ethylene diamine (EDA) were prepared for the removal of heavy metal ions (i.e., copper, lead, cadmium, and mercury) from aqueous solutions containing different amount of these ions (5–700 mg/L) and at different pH values (2.0–8.0). Adsorption of heavy metal ions on the unmodified mPMMA microbeads was very low (3.6 μmol/g for Cu(II), 4.2 μmol/g for Pb(II), 4.6 μmol/g for Cd(II), and 2.9 μmol/g for Hg(II)). EDA‐incorporation significantly increased the heavy metal adsorption (201 μmol/g for Cu(II), 186 μmol/g for Pb(II), 162 μmol/g for Cd(II), and 150 μmol/g for Hg(II)). Competitive adsorption capacities (in the case of adsorption from mixture) were determined to be 79.8 μmol/g for Cu(II), 58.7 μmol/g for Pb(II), 52.4 μmol/g for Cd(II), and 45.3 μmol/g for Hg(II). The observed affinity order in adsorption was found to be Cu(II) > Pb(II) > Cd(II) > Hg(II) for both under noncompetitive and competitive conditions. The adsorption of heavy metal ions increased with increasing pH and reached a plateau value at around pH 5.0. The optimal pH range for heavy‐metal removal was shown to be from 5.0 to 8.0. Desorption of heavy‐metal ions was achieved using 0.1 M HNO₃. The maximum elution value was as high as 98%. These microbeads are suitable for repeated use for more than five adsorption‐desorption cycles without considerable loss of adsorption capacity. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 78: 81–89, 2000     

A model for the adsorption of single metal ion solutes in aqueous solution onto activated carbon produced from pecan shells

Adsorption isotherms for activated carbon made from pecan shells have been obtained at 25 °C and an approximate pH of 3 for a number of metal ion solutes. It was found that the Slips and Freundlich equations were satisfactory for explaining the experimental data. The correlation of metal ion adsorption with the solute parameters of metal ion electronegativity and first stability constant of the metal hydroxide was investigated. In the case of most of the metal ions studied, higher electronegativities and stability constants corresponded to the higher adsorption levels of metal ions onto the activated carbon. A correlation was developed that predicts the constants of the Freundlich equation from the selected parameters of the metal ions, and thus can predict the adsorption isotherms at constant pH. The developed correlation gives results with acceptable deviations from experimental data. A procedure is proposed for obtaining similar correlations for different conditions (temperature, pH, carbon type and dosage). The ratio of equivalent metal ions adsorbed to protons released is calculated for the studied metal ions over a range of concentrations. In most cases, particularly at low concentrations, this ratio is close to one, confirming that ion exchange of one proton with one equivalent metal ion is the dominant reaction mechanism.     

Adsorption studies on copper,cadmium, and zinc ion removal from aqueous solution using magnetite/carbon nanocomposites

Magnetite/carbon nanocomposites were tested as adsorbents for removal of metal ions from aqueous solutions. The effect of adsorption parameters such as solutions pH (ranging between 2 and 9), the nature and the quantity of the sorbent (10, 20, 40, and 60 mg), initial concentration of metal ions (10, 30, 50, 100, and 150 mg/L), and temperature (25, 45, and 65°C) was evaluated. The removal efficiency of metal ions depends on solution pH and increases with increasing carbon content, the dose of magnetite/carbon nanocomposites, and the temperature and decrease with initial concentration of the metal ions. The adsorption kinetics was described by pseudo-second-order model, and the equilibrium experimental data were well fitted to the Sips isotherm, yielding a maximum adsorption capacity of 41.11, 76.67, and 48.45 mg/g for copper, cadmium, and zinc, respectively. The thermodynamic parameter Gibbs free energy was determined to be negative, which indicated that the adsorption process is spontaneous. The optimum conditions (1 g/L adsorbent, 25°C, and pH 6) were selected for removal of metal ions from real wastewaters, with good results indicating that investigated nanocomposites could be used for the application in real systems.     

Removal of metal ions from aqueous solution by activated carbons obtained from different raw materials

The adsorption of Pb²⁺, Cu²⁺, Zn²⁺ and Cd²⁺ from aqueous solution at 293 K by activated carbons obtained from different raw materials was studied. These carbons were prepared by water vapour pyrolysis of the raw materials—apricot stones, coconut shells and lignite coal. The influence of the solution pH on the adsorption processes has been studied. The presence of other metal ions in the solution decreases the adsorption of each of the ions. The selective adsorption of the metal ions is observed but the ones preferentially adsorbed do not completely prevent the adsorption of other ions. The chemical nature of the carbon surface and metal ions have great significance for the adsorption process.     

添加氯化铵改性污泥活性炭吸附镉、铅重金属的研究

氯化铵作为添加剂、氯化锌作为活化剂制备高效吸附重金属离子的污泥活性炭,研究其对铅、镉重金属的吸附效果和机理,探讨了溶液pH值和吸附温度对重金属吸附的影响。结果表明:吸附量随pH值的增大而增大,温度对于低浓度金属离子的吸附量影响不大,温度的升高有利于铅的吸附;Langmuir和Freundlich吸附等温式均能较好模拟活性炭对镉重金属离子的吸附,铅的吸附则符合Freundlich吸附等温式。     

Adsorption of 2,4-dichlorophenol on metal-nitrate modified activated carbon

To remove 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP) from aqueous solution, the surface of the activated carbon was first treated with HCl and then the surface was modified by using various metal ions (Cu, Co, Fe, Ni, Zn, and Mg). Metal doping significantly enhanced the adsorption efficiency of activated carbon, an effect that was further increased by HCl treatment of the modified activated carbons. Of all the preparations, the zinc(II)-modified activated carbon with HCl treatment showed the highest adsorption capacity for 2,4-DCP. Analysis of the zinc(II)-modified activated carbon by SEM and BET showed a surface area and micropore volume of around 1,154.69 m²/g and 0.291 cm³/g, respectively, values about 20% higher than in the starting material. In the pH range of 2.0–11.0, the maximum uptake of 2,4-DCP from an initial concentration of 1,000 mg/L was 508 mg/g at pH 4.0.     

不同热解温度生物炭对溶液中镉的吸附性能研究

以玉米秸秆、枫杨树枝、花生壳为生物质材料,分别在450、550、650℃下,对3种生物质材料进行厌氧热解制备了9种生物炭,对溶液中的Cd2+进行吸附试验,研究了pH、生物炭投加量、吸附时间和Cd2+初始质量浓度对Cd2+吸附效果的影响。结果表明,吸附过程与Langmuir、Freundlich和准一级动力学方程拟合的相关性较好。pH对吸附的影响较大,吸附率与生物炭的投加量呈正比,650℃制备的3种生物炭的吸附能力更强,花生壳生物炭对溶液中的Cd2+具有更好的吸附能力。     

Adsorption of Phenol and 2,4‐Dinitrophenol on Activated Carbon Cloth: The Influence of Sorbent Surface Acidity and pH

Abstract

In this work the effect of the activated carbon cloth surface acidity and pH of the solution on phenols adsorption has been studied. Two phenols, widely different in the terms of their pKa values (phenol and 2,4‐dinitrophenol), have been chosen as the model compounds. It has been shown that phenol adsorption was favored by low pH values of solution and high point of zero charge values of activated carbon cloths. The adsorption of 2,4‐dinitrophenol was promoted at very low pH values of solution and it was less influenced by activated carbon cloth surface acidity.     

杏核的活性壳：一种用于黄金回收的有价值的吸附剂

Activated carbon has been proven to be an effective adsorbent for the recovery of a wide variety of metal ions from aqueous solutions. In this research, the activated hard shell of Iranian apricot stones was used for gold recovery from electro-plating wastewater. The effect of parameters such as dose and particle size of adsorbent,pH, agitation speed of mixing on the gold recovery was investigated. The results showed that under the optimum operating conditions more than 98% of gold ions were adsorbed onto activated carbon after just 3 h. In addition, the adsorbed gold could be eluted from this adsorbent by improved striping method. The process involves contact of gold-laden adsorbent with a strong base at ambient temperatures followed by elution with an aqueous solution containing an organic solvent. It was found that activated hard shell of apricot stones has the potential to replace im ported commercial activated carbons in gold adsorption processes.     

Determination of the competitive adsorption of heavy metal ions on poly(n‐vinyl‐2‐pyrrolidone/acrylic acid) hydrogels by differential pulse polarography

Poly(N‐vinyl‐2‐pyrrolidone) and poly(N‐vinyl‐2‐pyrrolidone/acrylic acid) hydrogels were prepared by gamma irradiation for the removal of heavy metal ions (i.e., lead, copper, zinc, and cadmium) from aqueous solutions containing different amounts of these ions (2.5–10 mg/L) and at different pH values (1–13). The observed affinity order in adsorption of these metal ions on the hydrogels was Zn(II) > Pb(II) > Cu(II) > Cd(II) under competitive conditions. The optimal pH range for the heavy metal ions was from 7 to 9. The adsorption of the heavy metal ions decreased with increasing temperature in both water and synthetic seawater conditions. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 89: 2013–2018, 2003     

Adsorption of Heavy Metals from Aqueous Solutions onto Activated Carbon in Single Cu and Ni Systems and in Binary Cu–Ni,Cu–Cd and Cu–Zn Systems

Single copper and nickel adsorption from aqueous solutions onto a granular activated carbon is reported. Metal removals increase on raising pH and temperature, and decrease on raising the initial metal concentration at constant carbon dose. The adsorption processes are modelled using the surface complex formation (SCF) Triple Layer Model (TLM) with an overall surface bidentate species. A dependence of the SCF constant on pH, initial molar metal/carbon ratio and temperature is observed, and a correlation for log K_ads is determined. The SCF model successfully predicts copper and nickel removals in single metal solutions. Adsorption in the binary metal systems copper–nickel, copper–cadmium and copper–zinc is also reported, showing competitive adsorption effects. © 1997 SCI.