Adsorption of Nickel (II) Ions From Aqueous Solutions Using Alumina

Abstract

The paper presents the results achieved during the process of nickel removal from aqueous solutions by adsorption on alumina (Aluminum oxide) in continuous conditions. The continuing experiments were conducted in a glass column with diameter of 16 mm and fixed bed of adsorbent with quantity ranging from 30 to 115 g, adsorbent grains size from 1.0 to 2.0 mm, and retention time of 0.5 to 12 minutes. The quantity of nickel in the aqueous solutions was changed within the range of 0.045 up to 0.12 mg/l Ni. The analysis of the obtained experimental data defined the mutual affection of the retention time, the initial nickel concentration in the water, and the adsorbent quantity, i.e. the content of the adsorbent in the treated solution to the adsorbent capacity.
According to the achieved results, logarithmic mathematical model showed best correlation between experimental and calculated values, also maximum nickel ions adsorption uptake onto the alumina were determined as 400 mg/g.