Separation Science and Technology, Vol.43, No.13, 3563-3581, 2008
Removal of Cr(VI) From Aqueous Solution by Turkish Vermiculite: Equilibrium, Thermodynamic and Kinetic Studies
The adsorption of Cr(VI) from aqueous solution by Turkish vermiculite were investigated in terms of equilibrium, kinetics, and thermodynamics. Experimental parameters affecting the removal process such as pH of solution, adsorbent dosage, contact time, and temperature were studied. Equilibrium adsorption data were evaluated by Langmuir, Freundlich and Dubinin-Radushkevich (D-R) isotherm models. Langmuir model fitted the equilibrium data better than the Freundlich model. The monolayer adsorption capacity of Turkish vermiculite for Cr(VI) was found to be 87.7mg/g at pH 1.5, 10 g/L adsorbent dosage and 20 degrees C. The mean free energy of adsorption (5.9 kJ/mol) obtained from the D-R isotherm indicated that the type of sorption was essentially physical. The calculated thermodynamic parameters (Delta G(o), Delta H-o and Delta S-o) showed that the removal of Cr(VI) ions from aqueous solution by the vermiculite was feasible, spontaneous and exothermic at 20-50 degrees C. Equilibrium data were also tested using the adsorption kinetic models and the results showed that the adsorption processes of Cr(VI) onto Turkish vermiculite followed well pseudo-second order kinetics.