Batch Pb2+ and Cu2+ removal by electric furnace slag

An evaluation of the application of electric furnace slag (EFS) as an adsorbent to remove Pb2+ and Cu2+ from industrial effluents is presented. The paper examines phase composition of EFS by using X-ray diffraction of powder. In the batch experiments, parameters studied include the effect of initial concentration of lead and copper ions, temperature, and contact time. Over the temperature range studied (293-313 K) the results of adsorption experiments could be fitted by using both Langmuir and Freundlich models and thermodynamic values of deltaG0, deltaH0 and deltaS0 corresponding to each adsorption process were calculated. Satisfactory conformity between experimental data and the model-predicted values was expressed by the correlation coefficient (R2). Both Langmuir and Freundlich models described the Pb2+ and Cu2+ sorption processes adequately, with correlation coefficient (R2) values ranging from 0.9760 to 0.9994. Data from this study indicated the potential use of the tested electric furnace slag, a by-product from "Felis" foundry in Sisak, Croatia, as Pb2+ and Cu2+ sorbents from the industrial effluents.