SORPTION OF Cu2+ FROM AQUEOUS SOLUTIONS BY SLOVAK BENTONITES

Bentonites are used as barriers in landfills, or in areas of old mining activities to prevent contamination of environment by leachates containing heavy metals. Batch experiments were performed under static conditions to study sorption of Cu2+ from aqueous solutions via adsorption on industrial products made from Slovak bentonites Lieskovec and Jel ovy Potok. The samples were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction, infrared spectroscopy and by specific surface area and cation exchange capacities measurements. Effects of pH, concentration of metal cations and contact time were analysed. The adsorption was strongly dependent on pH of the medium, and the uptake of adsorbed metal increased from pH 2.0 to 6.5, while the solubility of Cu at higher pH values decreased. The uptake of Cu2+ was rapid and it increased with increasing metal concentration, while the relative amount of adsorbed Cu2+ decreased. The equilibrium adsorption capacity of the adsorbents used for Cu2+ was extrapolated using the linear Freundlich and Langmuir adsorption isotherms. The Langmuir isotherm was found to fit better the experimental data measured for both bentonites.