BIOSORPTION OF COPPER CU (II) INTO BIOMASS CACTUS RACKETS OF THE MOROCCAN REGION OF MEKNES: APPLICATION OF ISOTHERM AND KINETIC MODELS
M. BOU-IDRA
Physico-chemistry of Condensed Matter, Faculty of Sciences, University Moulay Ismail, Meknes. B. P .11201, Zitoune Meknes, Morocco and Department of Agronomy and Plant Breeding, National School of Agronomy- Meknes, Morocco
H. ASNAOUI *
Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, University Moulay Ismail, Nuclear Physical Team and Transport, Phenomenon B. P. 11201, Zitoune, Meknes, Morocco
H. BAHRI
Department of Agronomy and Plant Breeding, National School of Agronomy- Meknes, Morocco
M. KHALIS
Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, University Moulay Ismail, Nuclear Physical Team and Transport, Phenomenon B. P. 11201, Zitoune, Meknes, Morocco
A. BENTAYEB
Physico-chemistry of Condensed Matter, Faculty of Sciences, University Moulay Ismail, Meknes. B. P .11201, Zitoune Meknes, Morocco
M. EL OMARI
Physico-chemistry of Condensed Matter, Faculty of Sciences, University Moulay Ismail, Meknes. B. P .11201, Zitoune Meknes, Morocco
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The biosorption of copper Cu(II) ions using the biomasses (opuntia ficus-indica) were investigated. Experimental parameters affecting biosorption process such as pH, contact time, biomass dosage and temperature were studied. Langmuir, Freundlich and Dubinin–Radushkevich (D–R) models were applied to describe the biosorption isotherms. Langmuir model fitted the equilibrium data better than the Freundlich isotherm.The biosorption capacity of biomass (opuntia ficus-indica) for total copper was found to be 56.69 mg/g at pH 5 and 1g biomass dosage, 60 min equilibrium time and 22°C. From the D–R isotherm model, the mean free energy was calculated as 6.24 kJ/mol, indicating that the biosorption of total copper was taken place by chysisorption. The calculated thermodynamic parameters (G°, H° and S°) showed that the biosorption of copper onto biomass (opuntia ficus-indica) was feasible, spontaneous and exothermic at 22–45°C. Kinetic evaluation of experimental data showed that the biosorption processes of copper followed well pseudo-second-order kinetics.
Keywords: Adsorption, Opuntia ficus-indica, copper, isotherm, kinetics