Title: Heavy metals removal from aqueous solutions by using Ficus religiosa leaves ash: equilibrium and kinetics study

Authors: Suleman Qaiser; Anwar R. Saleemi; Nadeem Feroze

Addresses: Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore 54890, Pakistan ' Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore 54890, Pakistan ' Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore 54890, Pakistan

Abstract: In this study, sorption of lead (II) and chromium (VI) by Ficus religiosa leaves ash (FRLA) was investigated. Batch experiments were performed to study the effects of pH, sorbent dose, temperature and initial metal concentrations. The maximum sorption capacity of lead (II) and chromium (VI) was found to be 68.03 and 38.02 mg g^-1, respectively. The optimum pH of 2 and 4 was obtained for chromium (VI) and lead (II), respectively. The thermodynamics study revealed that sorption of lead (II) was exothermic and that of chromium (VI) was endothermic. The equilibrium sorption data correlates well with the Langmuir model. The sorption kinetics followed the pseudo second order model.

Keywords: sorption; wastewater treatment; thermodynamics; kinetics; equilibrium; heavy metals; heavy metal removal; aqueous solutions; Ficus religiosa leaves; leaf ash; lead; chromium.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEWM.2013.054777

International Journal of Environment and Waste Management, 2013 Vol.12 No.1, pp.17 - 32

Published online: 20 Sep 2014 *

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