Uptake of mercury (II) from wastewater by activated carbon from an unwanted agricultural solid by-product: coirpith

Adsorption studies of mercury (II) from aqueous solutions on coirpith carbo n were investigated under the varying conditions of agitation time, metal i on concentration, adsorbent dose and pH. Adsorption equilibrium reached in 10, 25, 30 and 40 min for 10, 20, 30 and 40 mg l(-1) Hg(II) concentration. Adsorption followed both Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms. The adsorption capacity was 154 mg g(-1). The percent removal increased with the increase of pH from 2 to 5 and remained constant up to pH 11.00. Desorption studies were performed with dilute hydrochloric acid and potassium iodide solutions . (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.