Equilibrium and Kinetic Studies of Zinc (II) Ion Adsorption from Aqueous Solution by Modified Soybean Hulls

Water used in industries creates a wastewater that has potential hazards for our environment, because of introducing various contaminates such as heavy metals in to soil and water resources. In this study, a modification method was adopted to enhance metal ion adsorption on soybean hulls using NaOH and citric acid. The batch experiments were carried out to optimize parameters like pH, adsorbent dose, initial concentration and contact time. Equilibrium data were best represented by Freundlich isotherms. The adsorption kinetic data were adequately fitted to the pseudo-second order kinetic model. At optimum conditions of the parameters investigated, 99% removal of Zn (II) was achieved. On the basis of experimental results MSH was found to be an excellent adsorbent for the Zn (II) removal from wastewater.