The adsorptions of iron (III) from aqueous solution at room temperature on activated carbons obtaining from bagasse, pericarp of rubber fruit and coconut shell have been studied by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The activated carbons were prepared by carbonization of these raw materials and followed by activation with ZnCl2 . The adsorption behavior of iron (III) on these activated carbons could be interpreted by Langmuir adsorption isotherm as monolayer coverage. The maximum amounts of iron (III) adsorbed per gram of these activated carbons were 0.66 mmol/g, 0.41 mmol/g and 0.18 mmol/g, respectively. Study of the temperature dependence on these adsorptions has revealed them to be exothermic processes with the heats of adsorption of about -8.9 kJ/mol , -9.7 kJ/mol and -5.7 kJ/mol for bagasse, pericarp of rubber fruit and coconut shell, respectively.
