REMOVAL OF DIVALENT NICKEL FROM AQUEOUS SOLUTIONS BY ADSORPTION ONTO MODIFIED HOLLY SAWDUST: EQUILIBRIUM AND KINETICS

The removal of divalent nickel from aqueous solutions on modified holly sawdust was studied at varying contact times, pH initial divalent nickel concentrations and adsorbent dose. Results showed the removal efficiency by increasing of pH increased and decreased with initial nickel divalent concentration. By increasing pH from 2 to 12 (equilibrium time 240 min, adsorbent dose= 0.6g/100 mL, divalent nickel concentrations= 60 mg/L), the removal efficiency increased from 17.47 % to 81.76 %. Also removal efficiency was decreased from 98 % to 19.3 % by increasing of initial divalent nickel concentrations from 20 mg/l to 100 mg/L. Also the results showed the removal efficiency was increased by increasing of adsorbent dose and contact time. By increasing of adsorbent dose from 0.2 g/100CC to 1 g/100CC, the removal efficiency increased from 32.78% to 99.98%. The removal efficiency increased from 34.7% to 83.67% by increasing of contact time from 5 min to 240 min. Experimental equilibrium and kinetics data were fitted by Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms and pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-order kinetics models, respectively. The results show that the equilibrium data follow Langmuir isotherm and the kinetic data follow pseudo-second-order model. The obtained maximum adsorption capacity was 22.47 mg/g at a pH 7. The results show that the modified holly sawdust can be used for the treatment of aqueous solutions containing nickel as a low cost adsorbent.