Adsorption of Cu2+ from aqueous solution onto iron oxide coated eggshell powder: Evaluation of equilibrium,isotherms, kinetics,and regeneration capacity

This study explored the adsorption behavior of Cu²⁺ onto iron oxide coated eggshell powder (IOESP) from aqueous solution. The effect of various operational parameters such as pH, contact time, initial adsorbate concentration, surfactant, and temperature on adsorption of Cu²⁺ ions was investigated using batch adsorption experiments. The optimum pH for Cu²⁺ adsorption was found to be 6.0. Kinetics of adsorption was found to follow the pseudo-second-order rate equation. The suitability of Langmuir and Freundlich adsorption models to the equilibrium data was investigated. The adsorption was well described by the Freundlich isotherm model indicating the presence of heterogeneous sites for Cu²⁺ adsorption. The adsorption of Cu²⁺ was increased in the presence of anionic surfactant (SDS) while cationic surfactant (CTAB) shows no significant change in adsorption capacity. Thermodynamic parameters showed that the adsorption of Cu²⁺ onto IOESP was feasible, spontaneous, and exothermic. Regeneration studies were performed using HCl, HCOOH, EDTA, and NaOH as eluting agent for Cu²⁺ desorption from saturated IOESP and the maximum regeneration was observed with HCl.