Evaluation of the adsorptive capacity of activated Egusi peels (AEP) for the removal of heavy metals in solution

The removal of Pb (II) and Cu (II) by adsorption onto activated melon peels (AEP) adsorbent was investigated in this present paper. The adsorption data was well described by both the Langmuir and the Freundlich isotherm models. Adsorption was found to increase with increase in temperature, contact time and adsorbent dose but decreased with increase in pH. Pseudo-first order kinetic model was found suitable for describing the kinetics of the adsorption process. The Freundlich isotherm model kf was 3.43 for Pb (II) and 4.05 for Cu (II) signifying a preferential sorption for Cu (II) onto AEP in any industrial wastewater containing the two heavy metals. The Freundlich parameter n being less than unity indicates that the adsorption of Pb (II) and Cu (II) onto AEP was by physical sorption. Results from this study show that AEP could be used economically, for removing heavy metals from wastewater. Keywords: Activated egusi peels (AEP), heavy metal adsorption, kinetic and isotherm study