Abstract

In this study, the magnetic bentonite absorbentmodified by 2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-1,3-dithiolane, wassynthesized for simultaneous removal of two toxic heavy metalsof cadmium and copper from soil and water samples. Theinfluences of five dominant parameters of pH, temperature, timeand adsorbent amount on adsorption process were investigated.Via experiments, maximum adsorption percent of 98.5 ± 0.5 and98.1± 0.4 were obtained which showed the high adsorptionpotential of the proposed sorbent. The experimental data werefound to be properly fitted to the Langmuir and Freundlichmodel which indicates that the sorption takes place on aheterogeneous material. The sorption capacities of 175.439 and178.571(mg g-1) were achieved for cadmium and copper,respectively. Standard Error Estimates of 0.253 and 0.299 forCu and Cd, respectively, showed the fittest adsorption data afterusing this model. Also, Freundlich isotherm and Freundlichisotherm- linear plots were satisfactorily able to describe theadsorption of copper and cadmium by both adsorbents:N-bentonite and modified bentonite.