Evaluation and comparison of the biosorption process of copper ions onto olive stone and pine bark

Olive stone (OS) and pine bark (PB) were used as effective biosorbents for the removal of Cu(II) from aqueous solutions. The biosorbents were characterized by elemental analysis, potentiometric titrations, surface area and pore size distribution and FTIR analyses. Batch adsorption experiments were carried out as a function of pH, particle size, biosorbent dosage, contact time and initial copper concentration. Equilibrium data agreed well with Langmuir isotherm. The kinetics data fitted well into the pseudo-second-order model with correlation coefficient greater than 0.99. Finally, dynamic biosorption studies were carried out using a packed bed column and the main column parameters were determined.