Ultrasound-assisted Adsorption of Copper from Aqueous Solution by using Natural Mauritanian Clay as Low-cost Adsorbent: A Preliminary Study

The aim of the present study concerns the feasibility of using natural Mauritanian clay for the removal of Copper from an aqueous solution. The proposed adsorbent was characterized by pH, moisture, bulk density, loss mass ignition, X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF), X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infra-Red Spectroscopy (FTIR), and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The effects of adsorbent mass and contact time were analyzed. The adsorption kinetic data were analyzed using the Pseudo First Order (PFO) and Pseudo Second Order (PSO) models and the results showed that the PSO model best described the adsorption kinetics. The adsorption equilibrium of Copper was described by Langmuir and Freundlich equations. The equilibrium is perfectly adapted to the Langmuir model with the maximum adsorption capacities for Copper on Mauritanian clay adsorbent at pH 6.8 and pH 9 were found to be 0.081 and 0.31 mg g-1, respectively on a single layer. This study convinced that the Mauritanian clay is a promising adsorbent and could be an alternative, attractive, economic, and environmentally friendly adsorbent for Copper removal from aqueous solution via ultrasound-assisted adsorption.