Simultaneous adsorption of aniline and Cu2+ from aqueous solution using activated carbon/chitosan composite

A multifunction adsorbent, activated carbon (AC)/chitosan composite, was synthesized by incorporating AC into chitosan based on the ratio of AC to chitosan being 1/1. The simultaneous adsorption of aniline and Cu2+ from aqueous solution onto AC/chitosan composite was investigated by a batch procedure. These results showed that an adsorbent dosage of 0.3 g was appropriate, and a contact time of 210 min was convenient for reaching adsorption equilibriums for aniline and Cu2+. The simultaneous adsorption of aniline and Cu2+ was realized in a wide pH range. The adsorption process obeyed the pseudo-second-order kinetic model. The adsorption behaviors of aniline and Cu2+ followed Freundlich and Langmuir, respectively. No obvious competitive adsorption existed between Cu2+ and aniline.