Removal of mercury (II) from aqueous solution by adsorption on keratin powder prepared from Algerian sheep hooves

The batch removal of mercury (II) from aqueous solution using keratin powder (size <63 µm) prepared from steamed Algerian sheep hooves was investigated. The influence of sorption time, initial pH, and initial concentration of Hg (II) was evaluated. It is shown that steamed hoof powder from Algerian sheep hooves has a relatively high adsorption capacity for Hg (II). pH values between 2 and 10 have no effect on the sorption of Hg (II). The adsorption equilibrium was established in 3 h. The equilibrium data were described well by the Freundlich model. A comparison of kinetic models applied to the adsorption of Hg (II) on the Algerian sheep hoof powder was evaluated for the pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-order models. Results show that the pseudo-second-order model was found to correlate well the experimental data.