Sorption of Copper and Zinc from Aqueous Solutions by Microwave Incinerated Sugarcane Bagasse Ash (MISCBA)

Abstract

Industrial wastewater containing toxic pollutants such as heavy metals tends to contaminate the environment once it is release without proper treatment. Heavy metals are toxic to both human and other living organisms. It is necessary to treat industrial wastewater polluted with heavy metals prior to its discharge into the receiving environment. In this study, low cost adsorbent was generated from sugarcane bagasse through incineration. The prepared adsorbent “microwave incinerated sugarcane bagasse ash” (MISCBA) was used in removing copper and zinc from aqueous solution. Parameters of importance such as pH, contact time and adsorbent dosages are studied to investigate their effects on the adsorption of copper and zinc. Maximum adsorption was observed at pH 6.0, contact time of 180 minutes and adsorbent dosage of 10 g/L. Zinc removal follows Langmuir isotherm model with correlation coefficient of 0.9291. Copper adsorption follows both Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm model with correlation coefficient of 0.9181 and 0.9742, respectively. Removal capacities of 38.4 mg/g and 20.4 mg/g were obtained for copper and zinc, respectively. Application of MISCBA as low - cost adsorbent have shown significant outcome in removal of copper and zinc from aqueous solution.