Original Research Article
Year: 2016 | Month: February | Volume: 3 | Issue: 2 | Pages: 62-66
Kinetic Studies of the Adsorption of Hg2+ Ions (in Aqueous Solution) on Powdered Swamp Arum (Lasimorpha Senegalensis) Seeds
Timi Tarawou, Erepamowei Young
Department of Chemical Sciences, Faculty of Science, Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island, PMB 71, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.
Corresponding Author: Timi Tarawou
ABSTRACT
The kinetics of biosorption of Hg (II) ions from aqueous solution using powdered swamp arum seed was investigated to ascertain its suitability as a low cost adsorbent. Batch biosorption technique was used to investigate the effect of contact time on the removal of Hg (II) ions from solution. The results show that powdered swamp arum seeds were a very effective and novel adsorbent for Hg (II) ions from aqueous solution. The percentage removal of Hg (II) ions increased with increase in contact time up to 60 minute where equilibrium was attained. Two kinetic rate equations were used for analyzing the experimental data. The percent removal of Hg (II) ions was 90.2% at 10 minutes, 93.28, 96.53, 99.73 and 99.73% respectively for 20, 40, 60 and 80 minutes. The rate equations were very suitable for describing the adsorption process with regression coefficient (R2) values of greater than 0.9. However, the pseudo second order model was more suitable for the experimental data since it had a higher regression coefficient value of 0.999. The pseudo second order constant, k2 (0.400) was also found to be higher than the first order constant, k1 of 0.00002. Thus, the results of these findings show that powdered swamp arum seeds could be effectively utilized for the removal of Hg (II) ions from aqueous solution.
Keywords: kinetic studies, adsorption, aqueous solution, swamp arum, seeds.