Adsorption of Copper by Activated Carbon from Thumbai(Leucus aspera)Leaves

摘要

The removal of copper(II)from aqueous solutions,by adsorption on activated carbon prepared from Thumbai Leaves(TLAC),was investigated depending on pH,activated carbon dosage,contact time,initial metal concentration and solution temperature.The optimum conditions were determined to be pH 6,1.0g adsorbent dose,30 min contact time,0.1M Cu and 40 ℃ for copper removal.The maximum Cu adsorption capacity was found to be 85.9% on using activated thumbai leaf derived carbon.The adsorption process of copper(II)is tested with Langmuir and Freundlich adsorption isotherm models.The results revealed that copper is considerably adsorbed on thumbai leaf derived carbon and it could be economic method for the removal of copper from aqueous solutions.Moreover this study gives a value added utilization of biomass to remove Cu from waste water.