Adsorption of lead ion from aqueous solution using acetic acid modified wheat bran

School of Resources and Civil Engineering, Northeastern University, Shenyang 110819, China

E-mail : jpqiu1916@163.com

Manuscript received online 08 December 2012, revised 14 January 2013, accepted 19 January 2013

Adsorption experiments were carried out using biosorbent (acetic acid modified wheat bran as a low cost adsorbent) to adsorb lead ion (Pb²⁺) from synthetic solutions. The effects of various experimental parameters such as initial solution pH, contact time, initial Pb²⁺ concentration and adsorbent dosage were studied, and the optimal condition was selected. Kinetics studies showed that Pb²⁺ adsorption process obeyed pseudo-second order rate equation. The applicability of the Langmuir and Freundlich models for the data was tested. Both the models adequately describe the experimental data of the biosorption of Pb²⁺. The maximum adsorption capacity calculated from the Langmuir model is 25.1 mg/g for Pb²⁺. The study has shown the effectiveness of modified wheat bran in the removal of Pb²⁺ from synthetic solutions.