COMPARATIVE ADSORPTION OF COPPER ON OAK, POPLAR AND WILLOW SAWDUST

Three types of sawdust, oak wood (Querqus robur), white poplar (Populus alba) and willow (Salix alba L.), have been tested for copper removal from 0.01 m solutions. Pre-treatment processes are necessary for optimizing the adsorption substrate, using NaOH 3n, in a contact time of 60 min for oak sawdust, respectively 30 min for white poplar and willow sawdust, t at 22 'C. The adsorption process depends on duration, quantity of sawdust, initial concentration of copper ions and the number of operation cycles. Efficiency removal of 89% on oak sawdust, 67% on poplar sawdust and 60% on willow sawdust from diluted water solutions were registered. The high efficiencies, even at very low concentrations indicate particular suitability of sawdust for the advanced wastewater treatment. Key words: sawdust, biosorption, wastewater treatment, heavy metals removal.