Batch Adsorption Investigation of the Use of <i>Cordia Milleni</i> Carbon for Wastewater Treatment

Abstract

Applicability of low-cost adsorbent from Cordia millenii wood via carbonisation and chemical activation with zinc chloride was examined in this study for the removal of contaminants in textile effluent. The structural pattern of the carbon was examined using SEM equipment (TESCAN VEGA3 (LAB 6)). Batch sorption tests were conducted in wastewater treatment by varying adsorbent contact time with the sorbate from 30 to 120 minutes (at 30minutes intervals) in 200ml of
wastewater sample and agitated intermittently at room temperature to facilitate attainment of equilibrium condition. The pore structures of the adsorbent were interconnected with mean diameter size of 9.28±1.22 μm. Maximum removal efficiencies of 63.52, 64.94, 66.78 and 79.86% at 120 minutes contact time for iron, zinc, chromium and cadmium respectively were observed. Conductivity, TDS and TS increase with increasing contact time up to 90 minutes before reducing slightly. The removal percentage was more than 50% at the first 30 minutes of the sorption process for nitrate, turbidity and TSS. The treated wastewater with Activated Cordia millenii Carbon cannot be used for irrigation purpose because of the high value of electrical conductivity in the wastewater which can impede plant growth. It was indicated in the results that abundant, available and renewable adsorbent of Cordia millenii can be used for the removal of contaminants in textile effluents.