Removal of Cr (VI) from aqueous solutions by the nonliving biomass of Alligator weed: kinetics and equilibrium

The removal of Cr (VI) from aqueous solutions using Alligator weed, a freshwater macrophyte, was investigated in batch studies. Various factors including solution pH, Cr (VI) concentrations, agitation time, and temperature were taken into account and promising results obtained. An initial solution pH of 1.0 was most favorable for Cr (VI) removal. The kinetic data were analyzed using several models, including the pseudo-second-order equation, external diffusion model, and intraparticle diffusion model. The comparison gave insight about the mechanism of adsorption and potential rate controlling step. The results suggested that the Cr (VI) adsorption at all temperatures was best represented by the pseudo-second-order equation. The external film diffusion played an important role in the adsorption mechanism. The Freundlich, Langmuir and Langmuir-Freundlich isotherms for the present system were analyzed. The best interpretation for the equilibrium data at different temperatures was given by the Langmuir-Freundlich isotherm. The Alligator weed could serve as low-cost adsorbent to remove Cr (VI) from aqueous solutions.