Treatment of effluent from fertilizer industry by adsorption on willow sawdust-removal of Ni(II) and Cd(II) from the effluent

Raafia Najam,Syed Muzaffar Ali Andrabi

doi:10.35933/iel.2021.13.001

Abstract

Sawdust of willow has been investigated as an adsorbent for the removal of Ni(II), and Cd(II) ions from aqueous solution. Since willow tree is widely grown in almost all parts of Kashmir, it can be a common most easily available, sustainable, low cost adsorbent for the treatment of wastewaters in this part of the world where growing industrialization is affecting water quality like elsewhere in the world. Therefore, it is worthwhile to investigate the potential of sawdust of willow tree as an adsorbent for the removal of Ni(II) and Cd(II) ions from aqueous solution as a first step. Batch experiments were conducted to study the effect of some parameters such as contact time, initial concentration of metal ions, solution pH and temperature. Langmuir and Freundlich models were employed for the mechanistic analysis of experimental data obtained. Results reveal that in our system adsorption follows the Langmuir isotherm. The maximum adsorption capacity of Ni(II) and Cd(II) were found to be 7.98 and 7.11 mg/g respectively at optimum conditions. The pseudo-ﬁrst-order and pseudo-second-order models were employed for kinetic analysis of adsorption process. The adsorption process follows pseudo-second-order kinetics. The efficacy of the adsorbent in the treatment of effluent from fertilizer factory has been investigated and the results have been found encouraging.

Highlights

Excessive release of toxic heavy metals into aquatic systems due to industrialization can be detrimental to a variety of living organisms
Cadmium is toxic heavy metal discharged into the environment as industrial waste from metallurgical industries, metalliferous mining, fertilizers, mannures, sewage sludge, land fill leachate and batteries [3]
The objective of this study is to investigate the adsorption potential of Willow sawdust for the removal of heavy metal ions from aqueous solution

Summary

Introduction

Excessive release of toxic heavy metals into aquatic systems due to industrialization can be detrimental to a variety of living organisms. They are important contaminants of liquid wastes discharged from a number of industries such as electroplating, dyes and dye intermediates, textiles, tanneries, oil refineries, electroplating mining, smelters, and so forth [1]. Cadmium is toxic heavy metal discharged into the environment as industrial waste from metallurgical industries, metalliferous mining, fertilizers, mannures, sewage sludge, land fill leachate and batteries [3]. Long term effects of Cd(II) poisoning include kidney damage and changes to the constitution of the bones, liver and blood. Short term effects include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and cramps [4].

Objectives

Methods

Results