Removal of Heavy Metals from Wastewaters by Adsorption onto Wood Sawdust

Marina B. Šćiban and Mile T. Klašnja

Faculty of Technology, University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia and Montenegro

Corresponding author: Marina B. Šćiban
    Faculty of Technology
    University of Novi Sad
    Bulevar Cara Lazara 1
    21000 Novi Sad, Serbia and Montenegro
    Telephone: +381-21-350122 (366)
    Fax number: +381-21-450413
    E-mail: msciban@uns.ns.ac.yu

CEJOEM 2003, Vol.9. No.4.: 337–343

Key words:
Wastewater, heavy metal, adsorption, wood sawdust

Abstract:
The aim of this work was to assess the possibility of removing some heavy metals from water by a low-cost adsorbent. Removal of copper(II) and cadmium(II), which differ in the level of toxicity, as well as in some other characteristics, were examined. Sawdust of poplar and fir wood were applied as low-cost adsorbents, and pulp and Kraft lignin as main wood constituents. Batch and column studies were carried out.
The adsorbents examined were found to have good adsorption capacity, especially in the case of copper(II). On the basis of the results, the conclusion has been made that the main adsorption sites for metal ions in wood are on lignin. The adsorption of tested metal ions follows both Langmuir and Freundlich type isotherms. Batch and column studies yielded almost equal ratio for the adsorption efficiencies of copper(II) and cadmium(II).

Received: 1 August 2003
Accepted: 9 October 2003

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