Study of cobalt adsorption from aqueous solution on activated carbons from almond shells

Abstract The adsorption of cobalt from aqueous solutions in a series of activated carbons obtained from almond shells has been studied. The chemical nature and textural characteristics of those activated carbons were investigated. Both surface basicity and porosity increase with increasing activation time. The cobalt uptake on those activated carbons also increases with the activation time. A great enhancement of the cobalt uptake was found when those activated carbons were treated with concentrated nitric acid. The influence of the pH on the cobalt adsorption process was also studied.