Removal of Zinc (II) Ions from Aqueous Solutions Using Surfactant Modified Bamboo Sawdust

Abstract

The present study explores the ability of surfactant modified bamboo sawdust in removing zinc (II) ions from aqueous solutions. The modified bamboo sawdust is characterized by surface area analysis, Scanning Electron Microscope, and Fourier Transform Infrared and X-ray fluorescence analysis. Adsorption isotherm and kinetic models were used to study the adsorption characteristics of zinc (II) ions onto modified bamboo sawdust. The equilibrium adsorption isotherm data were fitted into the Langmuir and Freundlich adsorption isotherms. It was found that modified bamboo sawdust yielded maximum adsorption capacity of 111.12 mg/g at 50°C for zinc (II) ions. The kinetic data obtained at different initial concentrations were analyzed using first-order-reversible reaction, pseudo-first-order, and pseudo-second-order models. The results provide strong evidence to support the hypothesis of adsorption mechanism.

Keywords:

• adsorption
• anionic surfactant
• bamboo sawdust
• isotherm
• zinc (II) ion

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The study was funded through USM short term grant number 304/PTEKIND/639062. One of the authors (N. S. Ghani) is grateful to the University Sains Malaysia, for providing the fellowship and research facilities.