Removal of Cu²⁺ and Cd²⁺ by Adsorption Based on Different Ratios of Powdered Activated Carbon and (Maghnia) Clay Supports

Human activities such as the combustion of coal, oil, waste and certain industrial processes redistribute heavy metals in large quantities in the environment; they are biopersistent, disrupt ecosystems, deteriorate soils, surface water, forests and crops and accumulate in the food chain; some of these pollutants are carcinogenic to humans. Among the metals that are emitted in the environment, and in particular in water are cadmium and copper. These metals may pass into the blood and get accumulated in the liver, they can also cause kidney problems, and they form metal compounds with urea. To remedy the pollution and contamination problems of these metals, two composites of different ratios (3 parts clay and 2 parts activated carbon, 3C2A, and 2 parts clay and 3 parts activated carbon, 2C3A) based on Algerian clay and activated carbon were synthesized at different percentages by weight. The composite with the better adsorption capacity (3C2A) consisted of 60 (wt%) in activated carbon content. The adsorption of the heavy metals studied was improved by mixing the clay and the activated carbon. In fact, for the adsorption of cadmium on activated carbon, the adsorbed amount (Q_a = 17.13 mg g⁻¹) and it increased to 20.22 mg g⁻¹ for the 3C2A composite. These low-cost composites are effective in the heavy metal removal.