The activated carbon produced from rubber wood sawdust by chemical activation using phosphoric acid have been utilized as an adsorbent for the removal of Cu(II) from aqueous solution in the concentration range 5-40 mg/l. Adsorption experiments were carried out in a batch process and various experimental parameters such as effect of contact time, initial copper ion concentration, carbon dosage, and pH on percentage removal have been studied. Adsorption results obtained for activated carbon from rubber wood sawdust were compared with the results of commercial activated carbon (CAC). The adsorption on activated carbon samples increased with contact time and attained maximum value at 3 h for CAC and 4 h for PAC. The adsorption results show that the copper uptake increased with increasing pH, the optimum efficiency being attained at pH 6. The precipitation of copper hydroxide occurred when pH of the adsorbate solution was greater than 6. The equilibrium data were fitted using Langmuir and Freundlich adsorption isotherm equation. The kinetics of sorption of the copper ion has been analyzed by two kinetic models, namely, the pseudo first order and pseudo second order kinetic model. The adsorption constants and rate constants for the models have been determined. The process follows pseudo second order kinetics and the results indicated that the Langmuir model gave a better fit to the experimental data than the Freundlich model. It was concluded that activated carbon produced using phosphoric acid has higher adsorption capacity when compared to CAC.

• N. Sivarajasekar(School of Biotechnology, K. S. Rangasamy college of Technology)