Coffee Husk as Adsorbent for The Heavy Metals (Cr And Pb) Removal from Synthetic Wastewater

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Date

2019-05

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Addis Ababa University

Abstract

Heavy metal contamination of water is a serious threat to the ecosystem. Many industries such as electroplating, metal plating, mining operation, and tanneries release wastewaters containing heavy metals into the environment. The objective of the study was to investigate the efficiency of coffee husk for the removal of heavy metals (chromium. and Lead) from synthetic wastewater. Adsorbent was prepared from coffee husk and treated with 2% formaldehyde solution in order to reduce biodegradation of organic compounds and avoid mould formation during continuous sorption. It’s surface functional groups were analyzed using fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and the major peaks were observed at 3444 cm -1 -1 ,3438cm -1 and 3432cm which may representing bonded –OH groups rather than –NH group. Sorption studies were conducted in a continuous system. The sorption efficiency and adsorption capacity were studied as a function of adsorbent dose ,pH and flow rate of optimum results were found to be 99.8% at 30g, 3 and 5ml/min and 99.45% at 30g, 12 and 5ml/min which are the optimal conditions for Cr (VI ) and Pb(II ) respectively. The Sorption performance was improved as pH and flow rate decreased and adsorbent dose increased for Cr (VI ) and pH, adsorbent dose increased and flow rate decreased for Pb(II ). The highest adsorption capacity were also found to be 0.18806mg/g and 0.18mg/g at distinct pH=3 & 7.5 values for Cr (VI ) and Pb(II ) respectively and flow rate of 5ml/min.. Generally the study showed that coffee husk can be used as a good adsorbent for the removal of chromium and lead from synthetic waste water.

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Keywords

Sorption, coffee husk, Chromium, Lead, wastewater

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