Among different methods for removing inorganic contaminations from wastewater, adsorption by organic adsorbents is simple, cost effective and mostly used. In this paper, four different adsorbents were used for nickel removal; coal, coal tailing, coal ash and coal tailing ash through batch and column adsorption tests. Initial nickel concentration, adsorbent dosage and temperature were kept constant and were 15 ppm, 50 g/L and 25 ⁰C, respectively. Tailing ash was the best option for nickel removal in both batch and column experiments in comparison with other three adsorbents. Optimum duration time for maximum nickel removal was 60 min in the case of batch studies and 15 min in the case of column studies. Adsorptive properties of coal and tailing ashes were better than coal and tailing. Total nickel removal during batch and column testes was not different.

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