Adsorption intrinsic kinetics and isotherms of lead ions on steel slag

Batch experiments were carried out to investigate the kinetics of adsorption of lead ions by steel slag on the basis of the external diffusion, intra-particle diffusion and adsorption reaction model (pseudo-first-order, pseudo-second-order). The results showed that the controlling step for the adsorption kinetics changed with the varying experimental parameters. When the particle size of steel slag was larger than 120 mesh, intra-particle diffusion of Pb2+ was the controlling step, and when the initial concentration of Pb2+ was less than 150 mg L−1 or the shaking rate was lower than 150 rpm, external diffusion of Pb2+ was promoted. Contrary to the former experimental conditions the adsorption reaction was the controlling step, and the adsorption followed second-order kinetics, with an adsorption rate constant of 13.26 g mg−1 min−1. The adsorption isotherm of Pb2+ with steel slag followed the Langmuir model, with a correlation coefficient of 0.99.