Neem leaf utilization for copper ions removal from aqueous solution

Adsorption of copper onto neem leaf powder was studied in batch and continuous mode. Langmuir and Freundlich models were used to fit the equilibria data of which Langmuir model is considered better in correlation. The maximum adsorption capacity of neem leaf powder was 18.29 mg/g (0.288 mmol/g). Column adsorption study to obtain the breakthrough curves was also presented on which Thomas model were chosen to represent the dynamic sorption data. Thermodynamics data indicated that the adsorption process is spontaneous, irreversible and endothermic. (C) 2009 Taiwan Institute of Chemical Engineers. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.