Thermodynamics and kinetics of adsorption of Cu(II) from aqueous solutions onto multi-walled carbon nanotubes

Release of heavy metals into water as a result of industrial activities may pose a serious threat to the environment. The objective of this study is to assess the uptake of Cu2+ from aqueous solutions onto multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT). The potential of the t-MWCNT to remove Cu2+ cations from aqueous solutions was investigated in batch reactor under different experimental conditions. The processing parameters such as initial concentration of Cu2+ ions, temperature, and adsorbent mass were also investigated. Copper uptake was quantitatively evaluated using the Langmuir, Freundlich and Dubinin-Kaganer-Radushkevich (DKR) models. In addition, the adsorption equilibrium was described well by the Langmuir isotherm model with maximum adsorption capacity of 12.34 mg/g of Cu2+ cations on t-MWCNT. Various thermodynamic parameters, such as Delta G(0), Delta H-0 and Delta S-0 were calculated. The thermodynamics of Cu2+ cations adsorption onto t-MWCNT system pointed at spontaneous and endothermic nature of the process. Using the second-order kinetic constants, the activation energy of adsorption (E-a) was determined as 27.187 kJ/mol according to the Arrhenius equation. (C) 2011 Production and hosting by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of King Saud University.