Metal Adsorbent Prepared from Coir Pith as Agricultural Waste: Adsorption of Zn(II) and Pb(II) from Aqueous Solution

Adsorption of Zn(II) and Pb(II) from aqueous solution were studied by using modified coir pith as an adsorbent. The extended adsorption conditions were investigated as a function of calcination temperature, contact time, adsorbent size, initial pH of solution and initial Zn(II) and Pb(II) concentrations. The adsorption capacity increased rapidly in first 5 minute and reached equilibrium in 120 minutes for Zn(II) and 10 minutes for Pb(II). In case of Zn(II); the results showed that the calcination temperature of modified coir pith above 600 degrees C gave the higher adsorption capacity. The sizes of modified coir pith have no effect on the adsorption capacity. The adsorption capacity increased with increasing initial solution pH value. In case of Pb(II); the calcination temperature of modified coir pith showed no effect on the adsorption capacity. The sizes of modified coir pith showed a little effect on the adsorption capacity. The adsorption capacity increased with increasing of initial solution pH value up to pH of 3 and then stable. The results also corresponded with the Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms and pseudo second order kinetic adsorption models. The modified coir pith gave a higher Zn(II) and Pb(II) adsorption capacity of 29.33 mg Zn(II)/g adsorbent and 36.50 mg Pb(II)/g adsorbent, respectively.