Use of Modified Acasia arabica Tree Bark Substrate for the Adsorption of Ni (II) From Aqueous Solution

Abstract

Salt of various metals and other potentially dangerous are being discharged in to the aquatic environment, water containing vital concentration of some of the heavy metal ions are harmful to human being, animal as well as aquatic organism. The toxicity of some heavy metal ions even at the trace level has been recognized with respect to public health for many years. Metals such as Mercury, Lead, Cadmium, Copper, Nickel and Chromium are under this category. Many metals have been evaluated as harmful to aquatic life above certain toxicity level. Many industries may have specific waste problem where the particular metal is an integral part of the many manufacturing process. Notable examples are the high zinc waste of viscosity Rayon manufacturing ground wood pulp production and News print production. Adsorption has been proved to be an excellent way to treat industrial waste effluents, offering significant advantages like the low-cost availability, profitability, ease of operation and efficiency comparative to activated carbon. The Acasia arabica tree bark substrate was found to have good sorption capacity for Nickel. Studies indicate that the sorption of Ni (II) increases with the increase in pH value and contact time, 30minute was found to be optimum. The effect of concentration shows that the Acasia arabica can remove Ni (II) ions from aqueous solutions, the concentration of metal ions increases adsorption decreases.