Using Phragmites australis plants as activated carbon to remove Mn(II), and Cu(II) ions from different aqueous solutions

Abstract

This study investigates the use of agricultural byproducts of plants (Phragmites australis) as low-cost adsorbents for the removal of Cu2+ and Mn2+ from their aqueous solutions through the production of (AC). The results showed that the adsorption equilibrium time for both ions was 30 minutes. The results obtained showed that pH=5, pH=6 for Cu2+ and Mn2+ respectively were optimum to adsorption for these ions. The study showed that the weight (0.5 g) of the adsorbent was ideal to achieve the best adsorption and the ability of the adsorbents to adsorb  metal ions was as follows: Cu(II) > Mn(II).