Chemically activated carbons were prepared from maize cobs, using phosphoric acid of variable concentration. The texturalparameters of the activated carbons were determined from the nitrogen adsorption isotherms measured at 77K. The chemistryof the carbon surface was determined by measuring the surface pH, the pHPZC and the concentration of the carbon - oxygengroups of the acid type on the carbon surface. Kinetics of Cr(VI) sorption/reduction was investigated at 303K. Two processeswere investigated in terms of kinetics and equilibrium namely; Cr(VI) removal and chromium sorption were studied at variousinitial pH (1-7). Removal of Cr(VI) shows a maximum at pH 2.5. At pH<2.5, sorption decreases because of the protoncompetition with evolved Cr(III) for ion exchange sites. The decrease of sorption at pH>2.5 is due to proton insufficiencyand to the decrease of the extent of Cr(VI) reduction. The chemistry of the surface of activated carbon is an important factorin determining its adsorption capacity from aqueous solutions particularly when the sorption process involves ion exchange.

Treatment of water hyacinth with sulphuric acid produces carbonaceous materials that have been used to remove Cu(II) and Cd (II) ions from aqueous solutions. Untreated water hyacinth was also used for the subject of comparison. The textural properties of the carbonaceous materials were determined from nitrogen adsorption at 77 K. The optimum pH for the sorption of Cu (II) and Cd (II) ions on the investigated sorbents was determined. Dynamic adsorption measurements have been taken at 298 K whereas equilibrium measurements were carried out at 298, 313 and 323 K. The adsorption of nitrogen at 77 K on the untreated sample was too low and the surface areas of the treated samples 2, 3 and 4 were found between 70-208 m2/g. The total pore volumes of these samples which were determined for the carbonaceous materials investigated were found to be 0.076-0.140 ml/g. The kinetic adsorption data of Cu (II) and Cd(II) were applicable to both pseudo - first and pseudo-second order but fit more the latter order. The equilibrium adsorption data were found to fit Freundlich and Langmiur equations. The values of DG, DH and DS are all negative indicating the feasibility and the spontaneous nature of the sorption of Cu (II) and Cd (II) ions by the sorbents investigated.