REMOVAL OF HEAVY METALS FROM WASTE WATER BY USING A NATURAL AND BIODEGRADABLE ADSORBENT BASED ON PRUNUS AVIUM L. STEMS AS ADSORBENTS.

The objective of this study was to investigate the possibility of using Lebanese Prunusavium stems as an alternative adsorbent for the removal of copper ion from aqueous solutions. Different parameters such as the effect of initial metal ion concentration, pH, adsorbent dose, contact time and temperature were studied. Maximum adsorption capacity (89.5%) of copper ion was obtained at pH 10 an initial Copper concentration 150 mg/l after 1 h and at 25 oC. FT-IR analysis is pointed out the involvement of amine (-NH2) and carboxylic (-COOH) group in the adsorption process. The adsorption isotherm was better described by a Freundlich model rather than a Langmuir model. Based on these obtained results, it can be concluded that the stems of Prunusavium are effective as an alternative adsorbent for toxic copper ions remediation in waste water.