C. Namasivayam et K. Periasamy, BICARBONATE-TREATED PEANUT HULL CARBON FOR MERCURY(II) REMOVAL FROM AQUEOUS-SOLUTION, Water research, 27(11), 1993, pp. 1663-1668
Activated carbon prepared from bicarbonate-treated peanut hulls (BPHC)
has been used for the adsorption of Hg(II) over a range of initial me
tal ion concentrations (10-20 mg dm-3), agitation time (5-180 min), ad
sorbent dosage (5-120 mg 100 ml-1) and pH (1.5-10.0). Adsorption of Hg
(II) increased with increase in its initial concentration from 10 to 2
0 mg dm-3 and the equilibrium time of adsorption increased from 75 to
90 min for a BPHC dose of 100 mg 100 ml-1. The process of uptake obeys
both the Freundlich and Langmuir isotherms. The applicability of the
Lagergren kinetic model has also been investigated. Quantitative remov
al of 20 mg dm-3 Hg(II) in 100 ml by 70 mg adsorbent was observed over
a pH range of 3.5-10.0. A comparative study with a commercial granula
r activated carbon (CAC) showed that BPHC is 7 times more effective co
mpared to CAC.