Removal of Heavy Metal from Aqueous Solutions using Ground Water Treatment Plant Sludge

Sludge waste produced from Ground Water Treatment Plant at Chicha, Kelantan - was used as an adsorbent for copper ions in water. The adsorption process was carried out in a batch process and the effects of contact time (1-24 h), initial pH (4.3), initial metal ion concentration (1-100 mg/L) and temperature (20-30 °C) on the adsorption were investigated. Experimental results showed that the maximum adsorption capacity was achieved at pH 4.3 and adsorbed Cu (II) ion concentration was increased with increasing initial metal concentration and contact time. The isothermal data could be described well by the Langmuir equations and Freundlich equations. The correlation coefficient of the Langmuir isotherm (R2 ) were 0.457 for I mg/L, 0.678 for 10 mg/L, and 0.675 for 100 mg/L copper concentration. While, the correlation of Freundlich isotherms (R2 ) were 0.609, 0.638 and 0.735 for I, 10 and 100 mg/L copper concentration. ii