Effects of power of ultrasound on removal of Cu(II) ions by xanthated Lagenaria vulgaris shell

• Ultrasound positively affects the sorption of Cu(II) ions on xanthated Lagenaria vulgaris shell.
• Sorption time to reach equilibrium of xLVB for Cu(II) ions was shorter in presence than in absence of ultrasound.
• With ultrasound application, increase in sorption capacity is achieved due to an increase in the efficiency of diffusion processes and activation of new sites of sorption deep in the pores.

This study was aimed at removal of Cu(II) ions from aqueous solutions by ultrasound-assisted sorption onto xanthated Lagenaria vulgaris shell (xLVB). Sorption kinetics, isotherms and ultrasonic power were investigated. Sorption isotherm data were best fitted by the Langmuir model. The acoustic power was an important factor for the enhancement of the removal of copper. The maximum sorption capacity in the presence of ultrasound was much greater than in absence of ultrasound. The sorption process in the presence and absence of ultrasound obeyed to the pseudo-second order kinetics, indicating that the rate-limiting step might be a chemical reaction between the sorbent and the sorbate. The intraparticle diffusion and Boyd model indicated that that the intraparticle diffusion was not the only rate-limiting step in the sorption of Cu(II) ions on xLVB but that the other processes also control the rate of sorption.