Sorbent Characteristics of Montmorillonite for Ni2+Removal from Aqueous Solution

Sorption of $Ni^{2+}$ in aqueous solution was studied using montmorillonite. The experimental and equilibrium data fitted well to the Langmuir isotherm model. From the kinetics data for nickel sorption onto montmorillonite, the diffusion of $Ni^{2+}$ inside the clay particles was the dorminant step controlling the sorption rate and as such more important for $Ni^{2+}$ sorption than the external mass transfer. $Ni^{2+}$ was sorbed due to strong interactions with the active sites of the sorbent and the sorption process tends to follow the pseudo second-order kinetics. Thermodynamic parameters (${\Delta}G^{\circ},\;{\Delta}H^{\circ},\;{\Delta}S^{\circ}$) indicated a non spontaneous and endothermic adsorption process while the positive low value of the entropy change suggests low randomness of the solid/solution interface during the uptake of $Ni^{2+}$ by montmorilionite. Heavy metals such as $Ni^{2+}$ in aqueous bodies can effectively be sorbed by montmorillonite.