Determination of lead separated selectively with ion exchange method from solution onto BCW in Sirnak, East Anatolia of Turkey

There are approximately 82 million of tons asphaltites reserves in Şirnak, East Anatolia of Turkey. The present study was investigated to employ ashes of Sırnak BCW (burned coal waste) as an ion exchange in removal of important toxic metal, Lead (Pb), in high yields by adsorption. The ion exchange characteristics of lead onto BCW from aqueous solution were investigated with respect to the changes in pH of solution, adsorbent dosage, initial metal ion concentration, contact time and temperature of solution. For the adsorption of lead, the Langmuir isotherm model fitted to equilibrium data better than the Freundlich isotherm model. Thermodynamic functions, the change of free energy (ΔG°), enthalpy (ΔH°) and entropy (ΔS°) of adsorption were also calculated for lead. These parameters showed that the adsorption was feasible, spontaneous and exothermic at 293–333 K. Experimental data were also evaluated in terms of kinetic characteristics of adsorption. The batch kinetic data were correlated to the pseudo-first order and pseudo-second order models. The data fitted better to the pseudo-second order equation. The activation energy of systems was determined. Experimental data have shown that BCW that was used in unmodified form; as low cost, readily available ion exchange; can be used for removal of lead from industrial waste waters. Analysis was determined using Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (FAAS).