Abstract

The present study is devoted for eliminating cyanide from wastewater through adsorption onto a surface impregnated with iron. It is seen that the impregnation of iron improves the removal efficacy of cyanide. Ferric nitrate nonahydrate has been used as impregnating agent, and Corncob, a waste material, has been used as a progenitor for the preparation of adsorbent. For determining the optimum conditions for impregnation of iron, response surface methodology has been employed. Combined effect of weight ratio, time, and temperature has been tested, and optimum condition has been obtained with weight ratio (1.0), time (1.50 h), and temperature (400 °C), and the sample made at this condition is named as iron-impregnated activated carbon (IIAC). While studying the adsorptive behavior of IIAC in contrast to activated Corncob without impregnation (ACWI), it has been found that for a cyanide solution of 50 mg L−1, ACWI can remove only 61% of cyanide and IIAC is able to remove around 91% at a constant adsorbent dosage of 10 g L−1. The minimum (− 1) and maximum (+ 1) level of particle sizes (45–150 µm), adsorbent dosage (5–20 g L−1), and initial concentration (IC) of cyanide (5–50 mg L−1) on cyanide removal have been examined using ANOVA, at room temperature (25 °C) for knowing the dependence on the same. Maximum cyanide removal (99.58%) has been achieved at an optimum particle size of 100 µm, adsorbent dosage of 3.95 g L−1, IC of 27.5 mg L−1 at pH 7.5 with IIAC. Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models have been used for analyzing equilibrium data where Freundlich isotherm has been suitable. Different kinetic models have been employed to fit the data. Pseudo-second-order kinetic model has been found to be most applicable.

Highlights

  • With industrial growth and advancement in technology, the improper disposal of industrial wastewater containing large quantities of cyanide has resulted in the contamination of water bodies

  • The samples have been contacted with simulated solution of cyanide and percentage removal of cyanide has been placed in the corresponding rows of the fourth column of the said table

  • Where R1 is the response given as the removal of cyanide, A is the weight ratio of Corncob dust to ferric nitrate nonahydrate (g g−1), B is time (h), and C is the temperature (°C)

Read more

Summary

Introduction

With industrial growth and advancement in technology, the improper disposal of industrial wastewater containing large quantities of cyanide has resulted in the contamination of water bodies. Commercial activated carbon is a preferred material as adsorbent, for the expulsion of pollutants from water due to its large surface area, high adsorption capacity, and microporous structure, but the regeneration cost of adsorbent is high. This has led to search of a cheaper and suitable adsorbent for selective adsorption process. The present study uses waste Corncob as precursor for preparation of adsorbent for the removal of cyanide. As per the knowledge of present research group concerned, no work has been done with Corncob as a precursor for preparation of activated carbon and application of the prepared adsorbent in cyanide removal

Methods
Results
Conclusion
Full Text
Published version (Free)

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call