Sorption of iron from phosphoric acid solution using polyacrylamide grafted activated carbon

Polyacrylamide grafted activated carbon (PAAm-Ac) was prepared from chemically activated carbon of rice husk and rice straw and polyacrylamide. The prepared composite adsorbent was used for removal of iron from wet-phosphoric acid solution. Different parameters that could affect the adsorption reaction were investigated such as pH, contact time, metal ion concentration, adsorbent dose and anion concentration. The adsorption isotherms were studied to evaluate the maximum sorption capacity of adsorbent. The experimental results were found to fit with Langmuir isotherm model with maximum sorption capacity 6.15 mg/g. Different kinetic models were applied upon the experimental data, and it was found to fit well with pseudo second order kinetic model with adsorption capacity of 5.29 mg/g, suggesting a chemisorptions mechanism. The prepared polymeric composite adsorbent was applied for removal of iron from wet process phosphoric acid solution through batch and column experiments. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd All rights reserved.