Single and binary adsorption of nickel and copper from aqueous solutions by γ-alumina nanoparticles: Equilibrium and kinetic modeling

Adsorption of the nickel and copper ions from single and bi-component solutions by nanostructure gamma-alumina is studied experimentally and described by thermodynamic and kinetic modeling. Effects of the contact time, temperature and pH on these adsorptions are investigated. Kinetics of adsorption is studied by fitting the time-dependent data into different mechanisms, among which the pseudo-second order mechanism has been found successful. To model adsorption equilibrium, Freundlich isotherm resulted in the best fitting. With a 200 ppm initial concentration, maximum adsorption capacity at 40 degrees C for the Ni2+ and Cu2+ ions is measured to be 49.7 mg g(-1) and 31.3 mg g(-1). The Langmuir-Freundlich model could describe the two-component adsorption successfully. (C) 2015 Published by Elsevier B.V.