Adsorption Efficieny of Groundnut Shell, Lentil Husk and Orange Peel in the Removal of Selected Heavy Metals in Wastewater
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Date
2020-07-07
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Huge amount of metal contaminated wastewater is discharged in Addis Ababa. Owing to the associated problem of disposal, wastewater presents a very severe environmental challenge. The present work focused on the removal of Cr 3+, Cd 2+ and Ni 2+ from wastewater using groundnut, lentil husk and orange peel as adsorbents. The adsorption efficiency of these agricultural waste products for the metals in tannery wastewater was measured. Batch adsorption experiments were performed at different adsorbent mass (0.025 – 3.5 g), different contact time (30- 240 min), pH of solution ranging from 4 – 9, and constant concentration. The concentration of the selected heavy metals (Cr 3+, Cd 2+ and Ni 2+) in wastewater and standard solutions were determined by flame atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Maximum adsorption efficiency of groundnut shell for the metals Cr 3+, Cd 2+ and Ni 2+ were found to be 90.01%, 97.50%, and 96.79%, of lentil husk 88.82%, 98.15%, and 95.20%. The maximum adsorption efficiency of orange peel were 96.13%, 98.27%, and 92.67% respectively. The present study demonstrated that groundnut shell, lentil husk and orange peel could be employed as effective low cost adsorbents for the adsorption of Cr 3+, Cd 2+ and Ni 2+ in the wastewater sample.
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Heavy Metals, Adsorption, Groundnut Shell, Lentil Husk, Orange Peel, Chromium, Cadmium, Nickel, Adsorbent, Adsorbate