Equilibrium sorption of divalent metal ions onto groundnut (Arachis hypogaea) shell: kinetics, isotherm and thermodynamics

Adesola Babarinde and Gloria Ogonna Onyiaocha

Abstract

The equilibrium, kinetics, and thermodynamics of the biosorption of Pb(II), Cd(II) and Zn(II) onto groundnut (Arachis hypogaea) shell were investigated under various physicochemical parameters. Optimisation studies were carried out using
batch biosorption studies. The extent of the metal ion biosorption increased with increase in solution pH, initial metal ion concentration, dosage of biosorbent and contact time but decreased with the temperature of the system. The biosorption
of each of the metal ions was found to be pH-dependent. Kinetic study showed that the metal ions biosorption process followed the pseudo-second-order kinetic model. The sorption of each metal ion was analysed with Freundlich and
Langmuir isotherm models, in each case, the equilibrium data were better represented by Freundlich isotherm model. Thermodynamically, parameters such as standard Gibbs free energy (∆G˚), standard enthalpy (∆H˚), standard entropy (∆S˚) and the activation energy (A) were calculated. The biosorption of each metal ion was spontaneous and the order of spontaneity of the biosorption process being Cd(II) > Zn(II) > Pb(II). Similarly, change in entropy was observed for each and the order of disorder is Cd(II) > Zn(II) > Pb(II).