Adsorption of some heavy metal ions from aqueous solution by activated carbon and comparison of percent adsorption results of activated carbon with those of some other adsorbents

In this study, removal of some heavy metals ions (Mn2+, Fe2+, Ni2+ and Cu2) from aqueous solution by adsorption was investigated. For this purpose, h igh-grade MnSO4.H2O,FeSO4. 7H(2)O,NiSO4. 7H(2)O and CuSO4. 5H(2)O were used as heavy metal samples. The commercial activated carbon (Merck 2514), chit osan and agar were used as adsorbents. The pH of each solution was not cont rolled. This is because the net interaction between the adsorbent and the h eavy metal could be disturbed by the buffer solution. Therefore, all experi ments were carried out in a pH range from 5.3 to 5.5. The equilibrium adsor ption contact times were determined for M - 2514. The adsorption rate const ants were determined from obtained kinetics curves suitable for first degre e of rate kinetics. Adsorption isotherms of heavy metals on M - 2514 from a queous solution were determined. These adsorption isotherms were seen to be consistent with Freundlich's adsorption isotherm. k and n constants were d etermined from Freundlich's linear equation. In addition, M - 2514, chitosa n and agar were compared according to their percent uptake yields of the he avy metals.