Title: The kinetics of copper sorption onto yohimbe bark wastes

Authors: C. Escudero, N. Fiol, J. Poch, I. Villaescusa

Addresses: Departament d'Enginyeria Quimica, Agraria I Tecnologia Agroalimentaria, Universitat de Girona, Avda. Lluis Santalo s/n, 17071 Girona, Spain. ' Departament d'Enginyeria Quimica, Agraria I Tecnologia Agroalimentaria, Universitat de Girona, Avda. Lluis Santalo s/n, 17071 Girona, Spain. ' Departament d'Informatica i Matematica Aplicada, Universitat de Girona, Avda. Lluis Santalo, s/n, 17071 Girona, Spain. ' Departament d'Enginyeria Quimica, Agraria I Tecnologia Agroalimentaria, Universitat de Girona, Avda. Lluis Santalo s/n, 17071 Girona, Spain

Abstract: Kinetics of Cu (II) sorption onto yohimbe bark wastes have been investigated at various initial metal concentration, sorbent mass, agitation speed and particle size. The kinetic data have been treated by using two kinetic models the pseudo-first order equation and the pseudo-second order equation. Results showed that chemical sorption is the rate-controlling step and that the mechanism of mass transport by diffusion across the liquid film surrounding the yohimbe particles is not a limiting step in the sorption process. Ion exchange was found to be the main responsible mechanism for copper ions uptake.

Keywords: yohimbe bark wastes; pseudo-first order equation; pseudo-second order equation; ion exchange; copper sorption; SEM-EDX; FTIR-ATR; kinetics; kinetic modelling; biosorption; aqueous effluents; wastewater treatement.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEP.2008.020793

International Journal of Environment and Pollution, 2008 Vol.34 No.1/2/3/4, pp.215 - 230

Published online: 16 Oct 2008 *

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