KINETIC AND EQUILIBRIUM STUDIES ON THE REMOVAL OF Pb (II) FROM AQUEOUS SOLUTION USING NETTLE ASH

In this study the removal of Pb(II) from aqueous solution onto nettle ash (NA) as a low cost adsorbent was reported. Batch mode experiments were conducted at 25 °C to study the effects of initial concentration of lead ions, contact time, pH and adsorbent dose on the removal process. It is observed that the adsorption increased with increasing contact time, and the equilibrium was attained after shaking for 30 min. Batch equilibrium experiments exhibited that a maximum lead uptake was obtained at pH 6.0. The experimental data were analyzed by the Langmuir, Freundlich and Tempkin models and the isotherm data fitted well to the Langmuir isotherm with monolayer adsorption capacity of 1000 mg/g. The cost of removal is expected to be quite low, as the adsorbent is cheap and easily available in large quantities. The present study showed that nettle ash was capable to remove lead ions from industrial wastewater samples.