Kinetics Studies of Metallic Ions Adsorption by Immobilised Chitosan

Immobilised chitosan on glass plates was used as an adsorbent for metallic ions from aqueous solutions in a batch adsorption system. Experiments were carried out as a function of contact time and initial metallic ions concentration. The adsorption efficiency increased with increasing initial metallic ions concentration (5 – 20 mg L-1) and the observed trend was: Ag2+ > Cu2+ > Ni2+ > Fe3+ > Cd2+ > Zn2+. The experimental data were fitted to pseudo-first, pseudo-second-order, intra-particle, and liquid film diffusion kinetic models. The applicability of the pseudo-second-order kinetic model indicated that the adsorption behaviour was ascribed by chemisorption. Further data analysis by the diffusion kinetic models suggested that the metallic ions adsorption was controlled by more than one step; adsorption at the active sites, intra-particle, and liquid film diffusion.