Mechanism on the sorption of heavy metals from binary-solution by a low cost montmorillonite and its desorption potential

The potential of a low-cost Nigerian montmorillonite for the adsorption of Ni(II) and Mn(II) ions from aqueous solution was investigated by batch mode. XRD, SEM and BET analysis were used to characterize the adsorbent. The experiments were performed as a function of pH, particle size, adsorbent dose, initial metal ion concentration, contact time, ligands and temperature. The process was found to be dependent on all the parameters investigated, with a pH of 6.0 obtained for optimum removal of both metal ions. The Langmuir monolayer adsorption capacity of 166.67 and 142.86 mg/g was obtained for Ni(II) and Mn(II) ions respectively. The Freundlich isotherm gave the best fit to the experimental data than the Langmuir, Temkin and Dubinin–Radushkevich isotherms. The scatchard plot analysis indicated the existence of more than one type of active site on the montmorillonite which corroborates the good fit of the Freundlich model. The pseudo-first order, pseudo-second order and intraparticle diffusion models were applied to the kinetic data. The best fit was achieved with the pseudo-first order model and the existence of intraparticle diffusion mechanism was indicated. Thermodynamic studies showed an endothermic, dissociative, spontaneous and a physical adsorption process between the metal ions and the montmorillonite. Desorption studies revealed over 90% desorption of both metal ions from the metal loaded adsorbent.