Exploitation of Beach Sand as a Low Cost Sorbent for the Removal of Pb(II) Ions from Aqueous Solutions

Abstract

Beach sand is used to remove traces of Pb(II) ions from aqueous solutions. Effect of shaking speed, amount of sorbent, shaking time, nature and concentration of different electrolytes and deionized water along with buffer of pH 2–10 have been studied. Maximum sorption of Pb(II) ions (>94%) is achieved from 10⁻⁴M HNO₃. Sorption data have been tested using Langmuir, Freundlich, and Dubinin‐Radushkevich (D‐R) sorption isotherms. Thermodynamic parameters such as ΔH, ΔS, and ΔG have been evaluated. Kinetics of sorption is followed by Morris‐ Weber, Reichenberg and Lagergren equations. Influence of diverse ions on the sorption of Pb(II) ions is also investigated.

Keywords:

• Beach sand
• Pb(II) ions
• sorption
• sorption isotherms
• kinetics
• thermodynamics