Removal of Cu (II) from aqueous solutions using magnetite: A kinetic, equilibrium study

Abstract

Water pollution means that the physical, chemical and biological properties of water are changing. In this study, adsorption was chosen as the treatment method because it is an eco-friendly and low cost approach. Magnetite is a magnetic material that can synthesize chemical precipitation. Magnetite was used for the removal of copper in artificial water samples. For this purpose, metal removal from water dependent on the pH, initial concentration of metal, amount of adsorbent and effect of sorption time were investigated. Magnetite was characterized using XRD, SEM and particle size distribution. The copper ions were determined by atomic absorption spectrometry. The adsorption of copper on the magnetite was studied in a batch process, with different aqueous solutions of Cu (II) at concentrations ranging from 10 to 50 mg l. Optimum conditions for using magnetite were found to be concentration of 10 mg L, pH: 4.5, contact time: 40 min. Optimum adsorbent was found to be 0.3 gr. Furthermore, adsorption isotherm data were analyzed using the Langmuir and Freundlich equations. The adsorption data fitted well with the Freundlich (r = 0.9701) and Langmuir isotherm (r = 0.9711) equations. Kinetic and equilibrium aspects of the adsorption process were studied. The time-dependent Cu (II) adsorption data were described well by a pseudosecond-order kinetic model.