REMOVAL OF CADMIUM (II) FROM WATER BY ACTIVATED CARBON PREPARED FROM AVOCADO PEEL

REMOVAL OF CADMIUM (II) FROM WATER BY ACTIVATED CARBON PREPARED FROM AVOCADO PEEL

Engy S.E.M. Elhaddad

National Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries, Egypt.

e-mail:[email protected]

Abstract

The present work describes the biosorption potential of low cost and easily available avocado peel for the adsorptive removal of cadmium (II) metal. Avocado peel was treated chemically with ascorbic acid and physical treatment by increasing temperature to 500 ^oC. The adsorption behavior of avocado peel has been investigated as a function of appropriate equilibrium time, adsorbent dose, temperature, and pH in a batch system. Studies showed the modified peel is adsorbing more than non modified. The pH of aqueous solutions effects the heavy metals removal of cadmium. The maximum value of removal appeared at pH 5. The isothermal data of Cd (II) sorption conformed well to the Langmuir model. The equilibrium of removal of heavy metals was reached within 60 min. The removal process could be described by the pseudo-second-order kinetic model. In conclusion the activated carbon prepared from avocado peel is better than avocado peel only.

Keywords: biosorption, heavy metals, Activated carbon, avocado peel.