Adsorption of Heavy Metals from Aqueous Solutions onto Activated Carbon in Single Cu and Ni Systems and in Binary Cu–Ni,Cu–Cd and Cu–Zn Systems

Single copper and nickel adsorption from aqueous solutions onto a granular activated carbon is reported. Metal removals increase on raising pH and temperature, and decrease on raising the initial metal concentration at constant carbon dose. The adsorption processes are modelled using the surface complex formation (SCF) Triple Layer Model (TLM) with an overall surface bidentate species. A dependence of the SCF constant on pH, initial molar metal/carbon ratio and temperature is observed, and a correlation for log K_ads is determined. The SCF model successfully predicts copper and nickel removals in single metal solutions. Adsorption in the binary metal systems copper–nickel, copper–cadmium and copper–zinc is also reported, showing competitive adsorption effects. © 1997 SCI.