Comparative Studies on the Removal of Nickel (II) from Aqueous Solution by Using Carbon Derived from Palmyra Palm Fruit Seeds and Commercial Activated Carbon

In this study removal of nickel(II) from aqueous solutions by adsorption on to Palmyra palm fruit seed carbon (PPFSC) and commercial activated carbon (CAC) was investigated as a function of agitation time, pH, and carbon dosage on the adsorption capacity has been studied. The metal adsorption yields increased with the increasing adsorbent dosage and contact time and reached to equilibrium for both adsorbents. The suitability of the Freundlich and Langmuir adsorption models were also investigated for each sorbent system. In order to understand the reaction mechanism, kinetic data has been studied using reversible first order rate equation. The Lagergren’s first order rate constants were calculated for different initial concentrations of metal ions. The nickel(II) ions could be removal from the sorbents rapidly by treatment with Hydrochloric acid and at the same time the sorbent regenerated and also could be used again to adsorb by heavy metal ions. The suitability of this material for metal plating industry wastewater also examined.