Investigation on the removal of bivalent cadmium ions from aqueous solution and treatment of industrial wastewater using new alumina interfaced biocarbon

Abstract

The presence of heavy metals in water and wastewater is becoming a severe environmental and public health concern. It may contribute variety of adverse environmental and human health effects due to their acute and chronic exposure through air, water and food chain. They are released into the aquatic environment from many industrial activities. The present research paper deals with the adsorption capacity of the biocarbon material produced from the leaves of Lawsonia inermis plant. The biocarbon was prepared by the H2SO4 activation process. The adsorption capacity of the biocarbon was evaluated by considering the effect of various parameters such as pH of the solution, biocarbon dose, contact time, and initial metal ions concentration and to optimize the conditions for maximum adsorption. The metal ion uptake capacity of the biocarbon was tested in the stimulated wastewater containing bivalent cadmium ions. The maximum uptake of 97.85% of the Cd (II) metal ions was observed at the equilibrium time of 3.0 hours at a dose of 3.0 g and at the pH of 4.5 in the stimulated wastewater. In the real sample analysis, electroplating industry wastewater is used for the removal of cadmium (II) ions. The results indicate that 95.16% of ions were effectively removed at the same experimental conditions. It is also further noted that the metal sorption capability of the adsorbent is higher with rising concentration of metal ions in the solution. The percentage of adsorption of the metal ions was also significantly increased with rise of temperature of the wastewater.