Adsorption of copper(II) by "waste" Fe(III)/Cr(III) hydroxide from aqueoussolution and radiator manufacturing industry wastewater

''Waste'' Fe(III)/Cr(III) hydroxide has been used as an adsorbent for the e ffective removal of copper from aqueous solution. The parameters studied in clude agitation time, Cu(II) concentration, adsorbent dose, temperature, an d pH. The percent adsorption of Cu(ll) increased with a decrease in the con centration of Cu(ll) and an increase in temperature. Quantitative removal o f Cu(II) by 50 mg/50 mt adsorbent was observed at pH 5.0 for a Cu(II) conce ntration of 40 mg/L. The equilibrium data fit well with the Langmuir isothe rm. The adsorption capacity (Q(0)) calculated from the Langmuir isotherm wa s 92.59 mg/g at an initial pH of 5.0 at 32 degrees C. Desorption of Cu(II) from a Cu(II)-loaded adsorbent was 55.4% at pH 3.0. Application of the adso rbent for the removal of Cu(II) was successfully demonstrated using radiato r manufacturing industry wastewater.