Removal of Strontium ions from Aqueous Solution by Sunflower Straw

The sorptive potential of sunflower straw (<= 125 mu m) for Sr2+ from aqueous solution was evaluated. Batch adsorption experiments were carried out as a function of solution pH, adsorbent dosage, Sr2+ concentration and contact time. FT-IR spectra and SEM of sunflower straw were employed to explore the functional groups available for the binding of Sr2+ and morphology of the adsorbent. Maximum uptake capacity of sunflower straw was 17.48 mg/g occurred at around pH 3-7. The adsorption equilibrium can be achieved within 5 min and kinetic data were fitted well to pseudo-second-order model. The Langmuir and Freundlich models were applied to describe isotherm sorption data. The Langmuir model gave an acceptable fit than Freundlich model.