Removal of zinc ions from aqueous solution using a cation exchange resin

► The reactor used in the study was a rotating cylinder packed with cation exchange resin. ► The experimental data were analyzed using different isotherms. ► The equilibrium data fit well in the Langmuir isotherm. ► The experimental data were analyzed using four sorption kinetic models. ► Results show that the Elovich equation provides the best correlation for the biosorption process.