Removal of dissolved metals by activated carbon from road runoff in batch systems – equilibrium and kinetic*

Abstract: Removal of dissolved metals by activated carbon from road runoff in batch systems – equilibrium and kinetic. Activated carbon is an effective sorbent for removing organic and inorganic contaminants from aqueous solutions. In conducted experiments, granulated activated carbon (GAC) was used to examine the adsorption processes of heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn). Studies (performed in batch system) were carried out as a function of time, heavy metals concentration and pH values. The obtained results show that GAC effectively removes mentioned metals. Numerous kinetic models were used to investigate the mechanism of adsorption processes. Using the Langmuir isotherm, the maximum adsorption capacities were calculated to be 3.010, 3.662, 4.430, 3.800 and 4.169 mg·g–1 for Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn, respectively, in neutral conditions and 2.684, 2.578, 3.482, 2.592 and 2.253 mg·g–1 in acidic conditions.