Research Journal of Recent Sciences ________________________________________________ ISSN 2277 - 2502
Vol. 1(ISC-2011), 160-165 (2012)
Res.J.Recent.Sci.

Adsorption Studies of Zn (II) ions from Wastewater using
Calotropis procera as an Adsorbent
Vaishnav Vinod, Daga Kailash, Chandra Suresh and Lal Madan
Department of Chemistry, Jai Narain Vyas University, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, INDIA

Available online at: www.isca.in
(Received 11th October 2011, revised 27th February 2012, accepted 10th March 2012)

Abstract
Increased industrialization and human activities have impacted on the environment through disposal waste containing heavy
metals. The presence of heavy metals in the environment can be detrimental to a variety of living species. Metals can be
distinguished from other toxic pollutants, because these are non biodegradable, may undergo transformation, and can have a large
environmental, public health, and economic impact. The presence of toxic heavy metal contaminants in aqueous streams, arising
from the discharge of untreated metal containing effluents into water bodies, is one of the most important environmental issues.
Zinc is an essential mineral, but too much is not beneficial. Symptoms of zinc toxicity include nausea/vomiting, fever, cough,
diarrhea, fatigue, neuropathy and dehydration. Adsorption technique is one of the most important technologies for the treatment of
polluted water from zinc, but seeking for the low-cost adsorbent is the target of this study. Removal of zinc studied using adsorbent
prepared from poly vinyl activated charcoal of calotropis procera leaves (PVAC-CP). Batch adsorption experiments performed by
varying adsorbent dose, pH of the metal ion solution and contact time. Adsorption of zinc is highly pH dependent and the results
indicate that the maximum removal (85.8%) took place at dose 15gm/l in the pH range of 6 and initial concentration of 60 ppm.
Kinetic experiments reveal that the dilute zinc solution reached equilibrium within 105 min. the adsorbent capacity was also
studied the zinc adsorption followed both the Langmuir and Freundlich equation isotherms. Comprehensive characterization of
parameters indicates that PVAC-CP to be an excellent material for adsorption of zinc ion to treat wastewater containing low
concentration of the metal.
Keywords: Wastewaters, adsorption isotherms, calotropis procera.
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