African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 6 (7), pp. 929-932, 2 April 2007   

ISSN 1684–5315 © 2007 Academic Journals        

Full Length Research Paper

Studies on dyed coconut (Cocos nucifera) pollens for removal of Cu (II) and Zn (II) from aqeoues solution

Agiri, G.O¹*, Akaranta, O² and Ajayi, I. O

¹Industrial Safety and Environmental Engineering Department, Petroleum Training Institute, Effurun, Delta State, Nigeria.

²Department of pure and Industrial Chemistry, University of Port Harcourt, Port Harcourt.

*Corresponding author E-mail: otasgiri@yahoo.uk.com.

Accepted 21 November, 2006

The ability of undyed and dyed coconut pollens to remove Cu(II) and Zn(II) from single ion solutions was been studied. The experiments were carried out using coconut pollens (1.0 g) undyed coconut pollens, UDCP, and dyed coconut pollens, DCPI, DCPII and DCPIII of different particle sizes: 0.40, 0.63 and 0.80 mm, respectively. The amount of Cu(II) adsorbed on UDCP, DCPI, DCPII and DCPIII were 69.20, 97.90, 94.70 and 93.10%, respectively, while that of zinc adsorbed on these adsorbents were 87.15, 98.30, 92.55 and 90.05%, respectively. These results show that dyed coconut pollens is effective in removing Cu(II) and Zn(II) from aqueous solutions.

Key words: Adsorption dynamics, dyed coconut pollen grains, chemisorptions, heavy metals removal.