Evaluation of copper adsorption from aqueous solution using the leaf of Falcaria vulgaris

Increasing environmental pollution by the discharge of wastewaters containing copper has caused much concern because of the serious health effects، particularly the brain and liver and its bioaccumulation. The objectives of this study was to investigate the performance of a low-cost and natural adsorbent namely Falcaria vulgaris to remove Cu (II) ions from aqueous solution. In this study، the leaf of Falcaria vulgaris was collected from farms in Lorestan Province and used for preparing the absorbent. Effect of various parameters such as solution pH (2-12)، contact time (5-80 min)، Cu concentration (50-150 mg/L) and adsorbent dose (0. 3-2 g/l) were studied. The experimental data were fitted to Freundlich، Langmuir، Temkin، Dubinin–Radushkevich Isotherm. Absorbent characteristics such as BET surface، pore volume، particle size and pHzpc were determined. The results showed that Cu adsorption was affected by factors such as initial copper concentration، adsorbent dose and solution pH. Maximum adsorption was obtained at the solution pH of the adsorption efficiency decreased with increasing the initial Cu concentration. Among four isotherm models studied، Langmuir model (with maximum adsorption capacity of 8. 83 mg/g) well-described the copper adsorption onto the adsorbent. The BET surface area of the adsorbent obtained from the leaves Falcaria Vulgaris was achieved to 2. 6 m2/g. Overall، the results of this study showed that the prepared adsorbent has a good ability to remove copper ion from aqueous solutions. Regarding the low cost، ready to preparation and high efficiency of the prepared adsorbent from Falcaria vulgaris، it can be used as an appropriate alternative instead of relatively expensive adsorbents such as activated carbon to remove metallic pollutants.