Adsorption of thiram from aqueous solution on activated carbon and sepiolite

Adsorption of thiram on activated carbon and acid-heat treated sepiolite from aqueous solution at 10° C, 20° C, 30° C and 40° C has been studied. The adsorption isotherms may be classified as L type of the Giles classification which suggests that there is no strong competition from the solvent for adsorption sites. The experimental data points have been fitted to the Langmuir equation in order to calculate the adsorption capacities of the solids as well as their surface areas available to the thiram molecules. The removal efficiency (P) has been calculated for both adsorbents resulting that activated carbon is more effective (P = 98–100%) in removing thiram from aqueous solution than acid-heat treated sepiolite (P = 14–52%).