Abstract

Adsorption of Ni2+ and Cd2+ from Aqueous Solution by Using Natural Zeolites

Author(s): Mekdes Gerawork, Amare Ayalew and Daniel Moges

Heavy metals from wastewater are major pollutants of the environment. To remove these pollutants adsorption by natural zeolite has been used. The physico-chemical properties of the adsorbent were characterized by AAS and FTIR spectrophotometers. Then the adsorption efficiency of the adsorbent was optimized as a function of pH, dose of the adsorbent, initial concentration of adsorbate and contact time. The findings of this study showed the optimal metal adsorption was 98.94% for Cd and 91.2% for Ni at pH 6, 0.002 g/mL dose of the adsorbent, 120min contact time and 0.001 g/mL initial concentration of the adsorbate. Indeed, the adsorption and isotherm studies were discovered that kinetics and adsorptions were well described by the pseudo-second order and the Freundlich isotherm model fitted to the equilibrium data better than the Langmuir model did. So, this study confirmed that adsorption of heavy metals from aqueous solution by natural zeolites was very promising and efficient.