The study deals with adsorption of lead and zinc ions on the bed sediments of river Kali in western Uttar Pradesh. Adsorption is one of the most important processes in water quality control, which influences the transport of pollutants in aquatic environment.

The role of coarser sediment fraction (210 to 250 micro metre) has been elucidated and compared to those of the clay and silt fractions. The parameters controlling the uptake, viz initial metal ion concentration, solution pH, sediment dose, contact time and particle size have been evaluated. The adsorption of metal ions increases with increasing initial metal ion concentration.

The optimum contact time in which equilibrium is attained was found to be 45 min for both the metal ions. The extent of adsorption increases with an increase of pH. The adsorption of metal ions on the sediments follows two phases, a linear phase of adsorption followed by a flat plateau section.

Further the adsorption of metal ions increases with increasing adsorbent doses and decreases with adsorbent particle size. The two geochemical phases, namely iron and manganese oxide, act as the active support material for the adsorption of the two metal ions.

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