Chromium(VI) Removal Using Activated Thuja Occidentalis Leaves Carbon Powder – Adsorption Isotherms and Kinetic Studies

Abstract

This study investigates the capability of Thuja occidentalis leaves carbon powder (TOLC) as a viable adsorbent for the expulsion of chromium(VI) from aqueous solutions. By batch mode, the removal percentage of Cr(VI) is observed to be pH perceptive and furthermore relies upon the time of equilibration, amount of the TOLC adsorbent and Cr(VI) concentration. TOLC adsorbent before and after adsorption of Cr(VI) was characterized with FTIR, SEM and EDX. Adsorption isotherm results divulge that the Langmuir model was a better fit. The kinetic studies divulge that the pseudosecond-order model was the best fit. TOLC adsorbent can be easily regenerated and utilised for several adsorption/ desorption cycles.