Adsorption of Copper Ions from Aqueous Solution using Waste Foundry Sand

Abstract

The heavy metals render the water unsuitable for drinking and are also highly toxic to human beings.  Heavy metals are difficult to remove from the environment and are ultimately indestructible, unlike many other pollutants that can be chemically or biologically degraded. Removal of heavy metals is therefore essential. In order to study the ability of waste foundry sand to remove heavy metal ions from waste water and its factors affecting it, batch sorption experiments of Cu²⁺ were conducted on waste foundry sand under various conditions. Thus, in my present work batch adsorption studies have been used to remove the Cu²⁺ from aqueous solution using waste foundry sand. The equilibrium adsorption data were analyzed by Langmuir, Freundlich and Temkin adsorption isotherm models. The adsorption kinetic data were modeled using the Lagergren-first order, pseudo-second order and Elovich. The results indicate that waste foundry sand is good adsorbent for Cu²⁺ in aqueous solutions.