Adsorption of copper (II) using modified activated carbon prepared from Pomegranate wood: Optimization by bee algorithm and response surface methodology

Application of activated carbon prepared from Pomegranate wood modified with 1-(2-fluorobenzoyl)-3-{3-[3-(2-fluorobenzoy)-thioureido]-phenyl}-thiourea for the rapid removal of toxic metal ion impurities was investigated. The impact of several parameters, like ion concentration, pH, contact time, adsorbent dosage, and temperature was elucidated and optimization was carried out using of bee algorithm superimposed with response surface methodology, the obtained optimum experimental conditions for the parameters i.e. ion concentration, pH, contact time, adsorbent dosage, and temperature are 28.6 mg L- 1, 5.6, 70 min, 1.6 g, and 36.1 °C respectively. The experimental isotherm data reveals the suitability and applicability of the Langmuir isotherm model (R2 = 0. 997) and kinetic data was found to be in good agreement with the pseudo second-order equation (R2 = 0.9961) model. Thermodynamic parameter studies i.e. δG negative reveal the feasibility, and positive δH values confirm the endothermicity of the process.