Removal of Zinc from Aqueous Solution by Adsorption onto Low-Cost Materials

The study evaluated the sorption of Zn(II) ions from aqueous solution by two low-cost materials, waste somatic and dead tea fungus. The rate and extent of accumulation were affected by pH, contact time and initial zinc ion concentration. The initial removal was rapid and equilibrium was established in less than 30 min. Good correlation coefficients were obtained when the pseudo-second-order kinetic model of this process was assumed. The equilibrium process was described well by the Langmuir isotherm model with maximun sorption capacities of Zn(II) were found to be 416.7 and 375.9 mg g^-1 at pH 7.0 by waste somatic and dead tea fungus, respectively. Waste somatic and dead tea fungus were found to be efficient biosorbents of metal ions from the effluent of electroplating industry.