%0 Journal Article
%T Adsorption Mechanisms of Co2+ and Cu2+ from Aqueous Solutions using Natural Clinoptilolite: Equilibrium and Kinetic Studies
%A D.W. Nyembe
%A B.B. Mamba
%A A.F. Mulaba-Bafubiandi
%J Journal of Applied Sciences
%D 2010
%I Asian Network for Scientific Information
%X The study was aimed at determining the adsorption mechanisms involved in the ion-exchange of Co2+ and Cu2+ in their aqueous solutions using Southern African natural clinoptilolite in its original (non-activated form). The clinoptilolite was characterized with FTIR and XRF and was found to consist of quartz, alumino-silicates calcite and dolomite was shown to be effective at removing Co2+ and Cu2+ ions from an aqueous solution. Both Co2+ and Cu2+ were readily adsorbed from dilute solutions (0.0020 M) followed by a 0.0698 M solution and the least removal was recorded with 0.2000 M solution. After mixing Co2+ and Cu2+ to generate a mixed Co/Cu synthetic solution the removal rates variable results and depended on the salt concentration ratios of the mixed solution. It was observed that Co2+ was generally easily removed from these solutions compared to Cu2+. The adsorption data of the metal ions were postulated by Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms over the entire concentration range. Kinetic data for adsorption kinetics accurately fitted the pseudo-first order with external diffusion models indicating that the ion-exchange of Co2+ and Cu2+ ions could be happening on the exterior surface of the sorbent while the contribution of internal diffusion mechanism was considered to be minimal.
%K isotherms
%K Clinoptilolite
%K Cu2+
%K Co2+ solutions
%K ion-exchange
%K kinetics
%U http://docsdrive.com/pdfs/ansinet/jas/2010/599-610.pdf