Abstract
Activated carbon was prepared from sugarcane bagasse impregnated with phosphoric acid at 500 degrees C activation temperature and 2 h activation time, resulting in the carbon yield of 27.13%. The prepared activated carbon has high BET surface area (671.54 m(2)/g) and the maximum adsorption of iodine is 602.23 mg/g. The adsorption characteristics of the obtained carbon towards both Fe(II) and Mn(II) at different experimental conditions were conducted by means of batch and column methods. The adsorbent showed high affinity for the removal of both Fe(II) or Mn(II) from aqueous medium, where an uptake values of 7.01 and 5.40 mg/g were reported for Fe(II) and Mn(II), respectively, at 25 degrees C. Various parameters such as pH, agitation time and speed, adsorbent dose, metal ion concentration, temperature, and ionic strength had been studied. The kinetic and thermodynamic behavior of the adsorption reaction was defined, these data indicated pseudo-second-order model and the adsorption is endothermic in nature and mainly physical. Breakthrough curves for the removal of Fe(II) or Mn(II) were studied. Regeneration and durability of the loaded carbon toward the successive cycles were clarified. The adsorbed Fe(II) or Mn(II) was eluted from the column effectively using 0.5 M hydrochloric acid.