Adsorptive removal of zinc from industrial wastewaters using waste brick

Adsorption is one of the main processes used in remediation of heavy metal contaminated waters. In current study applicability of waste bricks in zinc removal is investigated through batch experiments. XRD and XRF analyses as well as optical and SEM microscopy were carried out in order to characterize the adsorbent. The maximum zinc uptake capacity of the brick sample was determined as 3.92 mg g-1. Non-linear regression was then applied to the equilibrium data and revealed that adsorption onto the adsorbent can be best represented by Redlich-Peterson isotherm model. Effect of acidic and alkaline modification on metal uptake was also assessed in equilibrium tests. Both treatments found to improve the uptake capacity. The kinetic data were also modeled by using pseudo-first order, pseudo-second order, and Elovich models. The adsorption kinetics of Zn2+ onto brick was best modeled by Elovich kinetic equation

Keywords:

zinc removal , adsorption , brick powder