Equilibrium sorption study of Al3+, Co2+ and Ag+ in aqueous solutions by fluted pumpkin (Telfairia occidentalis HOOK f) waste biomass

An ensemble of equilibrium sorption techniques was combined to study the influence of ionic radius on the sorption characteristics of Al 3 + , Co 2 + and Ag + by fluted pumpkin waste biomass. The experimental results were analyzed in terms of five two-parameter adsorption isotherm equations - the Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin, Dubinin-Radushkevich and Flory-Huggins isotherms. According to the evaluation using Langmuir equation, the monolayer sorption capacity obtained was 16.98 mg/g, 10.34 mg/g and 8.03 mg/g for Al 3 + , Co 2 + and Ag + respectively. The data further showed that, the Freundlich and Langmuir isotherms described the data appropriable than Temkin, Dubinin-Radushkevich and Flory-Huggins isotherms. The result showed that fluted pumpkin waste could be used for the removal of Af + , Co 2 + and Ag + from wastewater and ionic radius influences the rate of metal ion migration to the biomass surface and the adsorption intensity of the metal.