The use of activated and non-activated tar sands as adsorbents for copper ion removal

Jordanian tar sands were used as an adsorbent for the removal of copper ions from aqueous solutions. Experimental results showed that the adsorption of Cu2+ ions onto tar sands was pH- and temperature-dependent. Copper ion uptake increased with increasing pH, temperature and initial adsorbate concentration, but decreased with adsorbent concentration. An increase of ca. 40% in the uptake was noted when the tar sands were activated physically with CO2. The presence of NaCl salt in the adsorption process influenced the uptake of Cu2+ ions by the adsorbent studied. The adsorption process was very fast with equilibrium being achieved in about 2 min. The experimental data were well represented by both the Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models.