Abstract

Pollution due to the presence of nickel is of great importance because of its toxic nature and non-biodegradability. Nickel is one of the most common heavy metals used in the industry. The purpose of the study is to investigate the efficiency of modified multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) on the adsorptive removal of nickel (II) from its aqueous environment and also to survey the applicability of the linear and nonlinear adsorption kinetic models on the process. The effects of process parameters including pH (4, 5, 7, and 10), MWCNT dosage (2.5, 5, 10, and 12mg/L), initial nickel (II) ion concentration (25, 50, 100, and 125mg/L) and contact time (5, 10, 25, and 40min) on the removal efficiency of nickel using MWCNTs were studied, and their optimum conditions were also determined. Maximum nickel removal efficiency of 82 was observed at the optimum conditions of pH 10, MWCNT dosage of 10mg/L, initial nickel concentration of 100 mg/L and contact time of 10min. The experimental data fitted best into the linear Ho (I) kinetic models than the other linear models. The rate-determining step of the process was found to be chemisorption. The correlation coefficient R-2 values obtained for the linear and nonlinear models revealed that the nonlinear Ho adsorption kinetic provided a better explanation of the adsorption kinetic data of nickel removal by MWCNTs.