ADSORPTION OF COPPER FROM AQUEOUS SOLUTION BY MOROCCAN ATTAPULGITE: KINETIC AND THERMODYNAMIC STUDIES

In this paper, Moroccan treated attapulgite (MTATP) was used as a mineral adsorbent for removal of copper ions from aqueous solution. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) was used to study the functional groups of attapulgite. Kinetic analysis of the experimental results was carried out by using the pseudo-first-order, pseudo-second-order and the intraparticle diffusion models. The modeling results showed that the pseudo-second-order model is able to describe the adsorption behavior of copper onto attapulgite more accurately. Thermodynamic parameters such as Gibbs free energy (∆G?), the enthalpy (∆H?) and the entropy change (∆S?) of sorption were calculated. Outcomes reveals that the sorption process is spontaneous and exothermi