Abstract
In this study, the efficiency of florisil was
investigated for the removal of Cr(III) using batch type sorption under
different experimental conditions namely pH, sorbent amount, contact time and
temperature. The maximum sorption capacity of florisil
for Cr(III) ions was determined as 67.5 mg g-1, at pH 6.0, with a
contact time of 60.0 minutes at 25°C. The equilibrium kinetics,
isotherms, and thermodynamics of Cr(III) ion sorption onto florisil were also
studied and it was evaluated that the sorption kinetics of Cr(III) on florisil
followed pseudo-second-order model. The equilibrium data were in good agreement
with the Langmuir isotherm model indicating monolayer coverage on the sorbent
surface. In addition, thermodynamic studies revealed that the sorption of
Cr(III) onto florisil was spontaneous and exothermic. The presented method was
applied to the determination of Cr(III) in ultra–pure,
tap, bottled drinking and waste water samples and high recoveries obtained
confirmed the accuracy of the proposed study. The overall results have
demonstrated that florisil is a promising and efficient sorbent and a good candidate for the removal of Cr(III) from
aqueous solutions.