Author(s) :

Adamu Abubakar Rasheed, Muftahu N. Yahya.

Volume/Issue :

Abstract :

The study investigates the biosorption effects of Ni (II) and Zn (II) on the removal of Cu (II) ions in aqueous solutions by neem (Azadirachta indica) leaves. Neem leaves were dried, ground and sieved to neam leaf powder (NLP) of size 100 μm. Batch experiments were carried out by varying the initial Cu (II) ion concentration while maintaining a constant dosage of the NLP biosorbent at 1 g/L. It was found that the equilibrium adsorption capacity continuously increased from 1.62 to 8.60 mg/g as the initial concentration of Cu (II) solution increases from 20 to 100 mg/L. Nickel and zinc were found to have significant effects on the biosorption of copper. From the results, at an initial Cu(II) ion concentration of 80mg/L, the removal efficiency of copper was 58%, 65% and 31% for single metal system (Cu), in the presence of nickel and in the presence of zinc respectively. The presence of nickel increases copper uptake by the NLP while this effect is reversed in the presence of zinc. It indicated that zinc has greater adsorption strength than copper while nickel has much lower adsorption strength than copper. The results obtained from this study shows good possibilities for the NLP to be used as a biosorbent for the removal of Cu (II), Zn (II) and Ni (II) ions.

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