Removal of nickel (II) from aqueous solutions by ceralite IR 120 cationic exchange resins

The removal of nickel from aqueous solutions under different experimental conditions using a Ceralite IR 120 cationic exchange resin (CXR) as an adsorbent was investigated by batch adsorption techniques. Batch studies indicated that the percent adsorption decreased with increasing initial concentration of Ni2+. Maximum Ni2+ removal was observed near a pH of 5.0. The adsorption process obeys the Langmuir and Freundlich adsorption isotherms. The monolayer adsorption capacity was found to be 28.57 mg/g. The sorption of nickel on the resin was rapid during the first 25 minutes and the equilibrium was found to be attained within 35 minutes. The sorption of nickel onto the resins followed reversible first-order rate kinetics. Such ion exchange resins can be used for the efficient removal of nickel from water and wastewater