| Abstract: | Abstract The potential of coir, a low cost lignocellulosic material, was assessed for the removal of Cu(II) ion from aqueous solutions of copper sulphate. The coir fiber was also modified by an oxidative treatment, whereby the maximum uptake of Cu(II) increased to 6.99 mg/g as compared to 2.54 mg/g for the unmodified coir. A Langmuir type of adsorption was followed by oxidized coir fiber. A second order rate equation was observed for the Cu(II) uptake. The lowering of pH adversely affects adsorption on both the materials. Almost complete desorption of the loaded Cu(II) was possible using 0.25 N hydrochloric acid. The materials retained the adsorptive capacity up to three cycles when an intermediate regeneration step was given with dilute sodium hydroxide solution. In a fixed column packed with oxidized coir fibers, it was observed that the breakthrough time decreased with an increase in inlet Cu(II) concentration. The desorption level in the fixed bed column was around 90% and the column was regenerated and used up to eight cycles. The fixed bed column packed with oxidized coir was used to remove Cu(II) from an electrochemical industrial effluent. An ion exchange mechanism has been proposed for uptake of Cu(II) on the oxidized coir fiber. |
