Equilibrium, kinetic and thermodynamic studies of adsorption of Pb(II) from aqueous solution onto Turkish kaolinite clay

The adsorption of Pb(II) onto Turkish (Bandırma region) kaolinite clay was examined in aqueous solution with respect to the pH, adsorbent dosage, contact time, and temperature. The linear Langmuir and Freundlich models were applied to describe equilibrium isotherms and both models fitted well. The monolayer adsorption capacity was found as 31.75 mg/g at pH 5 and 20 °C. Dubinin-Radushkevich (D-R) isotherm model was also applied to the equilibrium data. The mean free energy of adsorption (13.78 kJ/mol) indicated that the adsorption of Pb(II) onto kaolinite clay may be carried out via chemical ion-exchange mechanism. Thermodynamic parameters, free energy (ΔG°), enthalpy (ΔH°) and entropy (ΔS°) of adsorption were also calculated. These parameters showed that the adsorption of Pb(II) onto kaolinite clay was feasible, spontaneous and exothermic process in nature. Furthermore, the Lagergren-first-order, pseudo-second-order and the intraparticle diffusion models were used to describe the kinetic data. The experimental data fitted well the pseudo-second-order kinetics.