Equilibrium isotherm studies for the sorption of divalent metal ions onto peat: Copper, nickel and lead single component systems

The sorption of three divalent metal ions - copper, nickel and lead - from aqueous solution onto peat in single component systems has been studied and the equilibrium isotherms determined. The experimental data have been analysed using the Langmuir, Freundlich, Redlich-Peterson, Toth, Temkin, Dubinin-Radushkevich and Sips isotherm models. In order to determine the best fit isotherm for each system, six error analysis methods were used to evaluate the data: the coefficient of determination, the sum of the errors squared, a hybrid error function, Marquardt's percent standard deviation, the average relative error and the sum of absolute errors. The error values demonstrated that the Sips equation provided the best model for the three sets of experimental data overall.