REMOVAL OF COPPER IONS FROM AQUEOUS SOLUTION USING PALM SHELL CHARCOAL ACTIVATED BY NAOH

Charcoal nanoparticles obtained through pyrolysis of palm kernel and activated by NaOH were prepared for adsorption of copper ions (Cu2+) from aqueous solutions. The effect of contact time (30150 min) and initial adsorbate concentration (30-150 ppm) on adsorption of Cu2+ ions was investigated using batch adsorption experiments. Adsorption efficiency, suitability of Langmuir and Freundlich adsorption models, and kinetics of adsorption were studied. The results show that efficiency of Cu2+ ion removal decreased with increasing initial adsorbate concentration. Higher removal efficiencies (99%) were achieved at initial adsorbate concentration of 30 ppm and contact time of 90 min. The adsorption process was well described by the Freundlich isotherm model with an exponent (n) and equilibrium constant (K-f) of 9.59x10(-5) mg/g and 0.182, respectively.