Activated carbon prepared from crushed pine needles used for the removal of Ni and Cd

Abstract

Abstract: A new activated carbon (AC), prepared by carbonization and chemical activation of crushed pine needles, was characterized and examined for its potential in removing two heavy metals, namely Nickel (Ni) and Cadmium (Cd). Fixed-bed column testing procedure was adopted in the study. Depending on the individual metal tested, different initial solution pH values and different initial metal concentrations were used to evaluate their impacts on the AC adsorption process. Breakthrough curves were used to assess the adsorption capacities. Batch reaction tests were also conducted and the resulting data were fitted to adsorption isotherms. Furthermore tests were conducted where the two metals were combined in the test samples so as to determine their synergistic effect. The results indicated that the highest metal removals and adsorption capacities were attained at the highest pH values and concentrations tested for each of the two metals. Also, the results recorded for the batch experiments exhibited higher capacities than those recorded for the column tests and the resulting data fitted best the Freundlich isotherm. The results of the binary tests showed that the AC adsorption capacity of the individual metals was not affected. © 2014, Balaban Desalination Publications. All rights reserved.