International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR) ISSN (Online): 2319-7064 Index Copernicus Value (2013): 6.14 | Impact Factor (2013): 4.438 Volume 4 Issue 3, March 2015 www.ijsr.net Licensed Under Creative Commons Attribution CC BY Single Component Adsorption of Nickel, Cadmium, Copper and Lead from Aqueous Solution Using Aswan Clay Taha M. A. Razek Department of Environ. Basic Science, Inst. of Environ. Studies and Res. (IESR), Ain Shams University, Abbassia, Cairo, Egypt 11566 Abstract: Metals discharged to wastewater pose a great threat to environment. Treatment for such metals contaminated wastewater is a must. Aswan clay (AC) was tested as adsorbent for the adsorption of Ni(II), Pb(II), Cd(II) and Cu(II) from aqueous solutions. Batch scale experiments were carried out to study the main adsorption parameters such as pH, adsorbent concentration, initial adsorbate concentration, and kinetics of biosorption. The aforementioned elements were removed using AC at a percentage of 94.05, 92.36, 92.83 and 97.41% for Cu (II), Cd(II), Ni(II) and Pb (II), respectively. The effectiveness of the studied biosorbent was demonstrated using wastewater samples emanating from electroplating shops and ceramic industry wastewater. Keywords: Aswan clay, adsorption, Freundlich and Langmuir 1. Introduction Industrialization and urbanization have led to an increase in ecological problems. Water is particularly vulnerable to contamination from discharge of wastewaters by various industries. Nickel (II) and lead (II) appear in the waste streams of chemical manufacturing, electroplating, metal refining, textile, paints and pigment, fertilizers, ceramic, mining and metal finishing [1]-[5]. Cadmium (II) appears in water streams of smelting, metal plating industries, ferro- chrome processing, ceramic, and acid main drainage [6]-[8]. Nickel (II) is considered as a suspect carcinogenic agent that may have a role in DNA transcription process causing important chromosomal aberrations [9]. Cadmium can cause a chronic health problems such as bone disease, lung diseases, liver damage and hyper tension [10]-[11] renal damage, chronic pulmonary problems [12]. Lead may affect the growth of children [13]. Copper can cause metabolic disorders; inhalation of copper produce symptoms similar to those of silicosis and allergic contact dermatitis. It may also cause hemolytic anemia and neurological abnormalities [14]- [15]. Removal of Pb (II), Ni(II), Cd(II) and Cu(II) from wastes is carried out using various techniques including precipitation with lime or sulfide, ion exchange, reverse osmosis, solvent extraction, membrane filtration and electrochemical treatment [16]-[17]. These methods suffer from high capital operational costs [18]. In developing countries, there is a pressing need to use available low cost materials for the treatment of wastes with simple working technology. In wastewater treatment, the process of the adsorption has an edge over other methods, due to its sludge free clean operation. Adsorption is classified as Best Available Technology Not Entailing Excessive Costs (BATNEEC) [19]. Adsorption of metals on activated carbon derived from different sources has been studied by some authors [20]; also carbon nanotubes were used to adsorb lead [21]. Natural clays are evaluated as an appropriate adsorbent due its low cost and high removal efficiency. Their sorption capabilities come from their high surface areas and exchange capacities. The negative charge on the structure of clay minerals gives the capability to attract metal ions [22]. Kaolinite and montmorillonite were used for removal of lead and cadmium and nickel [23]. In another study, removal efficiency of 52.91 mg/g was obtained for zinc removal using bentonite, another type of clay [24]. Vermiculite, a 2:1 clay mineral, was applied as adsorbent for removal of cadmium, zinc, manganese, and chromium from aqueous solutions. The quantity of adsorbed cations was 0.50, 0.52, 0.60, and 0.48 mmol g -1 of Cd 2+ , Mn 2+ , Zn 2+ and Cr 3+ respectively [25]. Cu was adsorbed on natural and activated clays and the reported adsorption capacity was in the range of 9.2- 32.3 mg g -1 [26]. This work has attempted to utilize the Aswan clay as abundant inexpensive adsorbent for the removal of nickel, lead, cadmium and copper from aqueous solutions. Powdered AC was used in batch scale experiments for removing nickel (II), lead (II), cadmium (II) and copper (II) from aqueous solutions. The effects of pH, clay dose, initial metal concentration and contact time on adsorption efficiency were analyzed, and the optimum values were determined from the experimental studies. In order to determine the reaction of heavy metals with AC, experimental results were applied to Langmuir and Freundlich adsorption isotherms and the isotherm constants were obtained. Adsorption kinetics was applied in order to determine adsorption mechanism and adsorption characteristic constants. In addition, the evidence for physicochemical characteristics of Aswan clay obtained from X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were investigated to understand the adsorption mechanism. 2. Materials and methods Clay analysis X-ray diffractogram of a powdered sample was obtained using a (Type) X-ray diffractometer under operation conditions of 40.0 kV and 30.0 mA with Cu K1 radiation at Paper ID: SUB151959 2114