title: Equilibrium and kinetic studies of adsorption of boron on activated alumina.
abstract: Boron is widely distributed in the environment, mainly in the form of boric acid or borate salts, and its contamination of waters is a concern around the world. This study focuses on boron removal by means of adsorption onto activated alumina. Optimum adsorption was achieved in the pH range 8.0 to 8.5. Approximately 60% (by mass) boron removal was achieved using an adsorbent dose of 5 g at an initial boron concentration of 50 mg/L. Adsorption isotherms at 10, 20, and 30 degrees C were investigated. The results fitted with the Langmuir and Freundlich equations showed a monolayer adsorption onto a surface, with a finite number of identical sites. To study the rate-limiting step, the adsorption kinetic data of boron were analyzed using first-order (Lagergren) and second-order kinetic models. The experimental results obtained showed that the adsorption process followed a second-order kinetic model.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Water and Membranes Technologies, Faculty of Sciences of Tunis, 2092 Manar II, Tunisia. bg_wided@yahoo.fr
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Bouguerra
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Marzouk
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hamrouni
mesh_terms: D000327:Adsorption; D000537:Aluminum Oxide / Q000737:chemistry*; D001895:Boron / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007700:Kinetics; D013696:Temperature; D013816:Thermodynamics; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D000537:Aluminum Oxide; D001895:Boron