SORPTION OF COPPER BY DYE-TREATED OIL-PALM FIBERS

Both dye-treated and natural oil-palm fibres from a palm-oil mill were used to remove copper and related heavy metal cations from solutions. The sorption of copper for both types of fibres was studied under var ious conditions, the parameters being effect of pH, initial concentrat ions, presence of other metal cations and chelators. The results showe d that dye coating had a pronounced effect on metal sorption. A compar ative study on the uptake by the fibres of metal cations from electrop lating wastes was also undertaken.