Removal of copper from aqueous solutions by adsorption using modify Zalacca edulis peel modify.

The removal of Cu2+ ions by adsorption using biomass derived from Zalacca edulis peel was studied in a batch system. The effects of pH and chemical pre-treatment of the biomass by the use of CaCl2 with different thermal conditions and initial concentrations were also determined. The results showed that chemical pre-treatment by CaCl2 enhanced the capacity of Cu2+ ions biosorption. The equilibrium sorption data of untreated Zalacca edulis peel and Zalacca edulis peel pre-treated with CaCl2 were fitted well by both Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms equations. According to the Langmuir equation, the maximum uptake of Cu2+ ions by the use of Zalacca edulis peel pre-treated with CaCl2 was found to be 27.03 mg g-1 at pH 5. The rate of adsorption was found to conform to pseudo-second order kinetics with good correlation. The binding between heavy metal Cu2+ ions and chemically pre-treated biosorbent was confirmed by the use of scanning electron microscope combined with energy dispersive X-ray analysis and electron probe microanalyser. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]