The Efficiency of Moringa Seed for the Adsorption of Heavy Metals from Tannery Effluents (Cr, Co, Pb, Cu, Cd)
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Date
2020-02-02
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Heavy metals are the most harmful of the chemical pollutants and are of particular concern due to their toxicity to humans. Moringa stenopetala seed acts as a natural adsorbent for the removal of heavy metals from waste water. This study dealt with removal of heavy metals from the river water polluted by Dire Leather Tannery effluent located in Winget area. Analysis of the heavy metals cadmium, copper, chromium, cobalt and lead was performed before and after treatment of the water with Moringa stenopetala seed powder. The adsorption efficiency of the powdered Moringa seed was evaluated as the function of adsorbent dosage and contact time. Microwave Plasma-Atomic Emission Spectrometer (MP-AES) technique was used for the measurement of concentration of the metals before and after adsorption. Only chromium was found in a significant concentration in the sample water before adsorption. The results showed that Moringa seeds were capable of adsorbing the heavy metal tested in the water sample. The percentage removal of the adsorbent was 95 percent for chromium at optimum dose of 6g and stirring time of 2.5 hours for 100 ml of the sample water.
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Moringa Seed, Efficiency, Adsorption of Heavy Metals, Tannery Effluents (Cr, Co, Pb, Cu, Cd)