Removal of copper ions from aqueous solution by tree fern

Tree fern, an agricultural by-product, was used for the sorptive removal of copper ions from aqueous solution. The experimental data was analysed by Langmuir, Freundlich and Redlich-Peterson isotherms. The equilibrium sorption capacity of copper ions was determined from the Langmuir equation and found to be 11.7 mg/g. A batch sorption model, based on the assumption of the pseudo-second-order mechanism, was developed to predict the rate constant of sorption, the equilibrium sorption capacity and the initial sorption rate with the effect of initial copper ion concentration and the tree fern dose. Various thermodynamic parameters, such as DeltaG(0), DeltaH(0) and DeltaS(0), have been calculated. The thermodynamics of copper ion/tree fern system indicates spontaneous and endothermic nature of the process. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.