Abstract
Abstract. In the present work we studied the effect of calcium carbonate on the adsorption behavior of Cu(II). Calcium carbonate (CaCO3) obtained in the absence and presence of biopolymer, carboxymethy inulin (CMI), was used as an adsorbent. The effect of sintering process and the particles obtained in the absence and presence of biopolymer on the adsorption capacity of calcium carbonate were investigated. The adsorption capacity increased with sintering of calcium carbonate. The results showed that the Cu(II) adsorption rate was fast and most of Cu(II) was adsorbed within 5 minute. The adsorption kinetics were tested based on modified Freundlich, pseudo-first-order, and pseudo-second-order equations. While pseudo-first-order equation was suitable for the adsorption kinetics obtained by using sintered calcium carbonate (CaCO3), the adsorption kinetic was best described by modified Freundlich equation for experiments carried out by using non-sintered calcium carbonate.