In this work, the effect of prewetting native and electron beam-modified wool on the resulting sorption of Cu(II) from wool solutions was studied. The following conditions and combinations were applied: 6 mM and 50 mM solutions, prewetting time 0-24 h, contact time 1-24 h. The sorption results showed that wetting the wool before sorption from the low concentrated solution can fundamentally improve the efficiency of the separation process. The opposite result was achieved when applying a more concentrated solution; that is, prewetting slightly reduced the sorptivity. The reasons for such results are discussed. The application of these findings can be used to optimize the separation process in technological practice, however, will require solute specification.
Keywords: adsorption; complexing effect; electron irradiation; prewetting; sheep wool.