FACTORS AFFECTING BIOSORPTION OF Cu (II) IONS FROM INDUSTRIAL WASTEWATER

Biosorption is considered a potential alternative for the removal of heavy metals from waste solutions to other conventional processes. The existence of copper in industrial waste water is normally in the structure of bivalent Cu(II) as a hydrolysis product or as CuCO3 in the form of organic complexes and its concentration may reach up to 0.1-0.12g.l-1, which according to the world health organisation water quality standard has to be reduced to 0.0010-0.0015g.l-1 to render it non-toxic in the industrial waste water. This study clearly indicates the effect of contact time, particle size, pH, metal concentration as well as biosorbent concentrations on Cu(II) ions removal from industrial effluents.