An-Najah Staff

Removal of copper from polluted water by plant leaves was studied using 15 species. Copper was recovered in variable percentages depending on the species and pH value of the solution. Copper recovery from a 20 mg/L copper solution ranged between 88% (in poplar leaves) and 33% (in oak leaves). For all leaves studied, maximum copper recoveries were found to be between pH 4 and 6 depending on the plant species. At pH 2 the copper was not removed by the plant leaves studied. Adsorption was suggested as the main mechanism for the reaction between copper ions and plant leaves with a reaction order equal to one.