Adsorption of chromium(VI) on low cost adsorbents derived from agricultural waste material: a comparative study

J Hazard Mater. 2007 Jul 16;145(3):465-70. doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2006.11.041. Epub 2006 Nov 25.

Abstract

Two low cost adsorbents were prepared by using groundnut husk and were tested for the removal of chromium. All the experiments were carried out in batch process with chromium spiked samples of drinking water. Silver impregnated groundnut husk carbon and groundnut husk carbon were tested for the removal of chromium(VI). Effects of adsorbent quantity, pH, contact time and agitation rate were investigated on removal of chromium. The adsorption data were fitted well by Freundlich adsorption isotherm. Approximately, 97% of hexavalent chromium was removed at pH 3 within 5h. It was found that adsorbents chemically modified with an oxidizing agent demonstrated better chromium removal capabilities as compared to pure adsorbents in terms of their adsorption rate. On the basis of present studies, it can be concluded that groundnut husk carbon oxidized with silver treatment, has a higher chromium adsorption capacities.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Adsorption
  • Arachis*
  • Biodegradation, Environmental
  • Carbon / chemistry
  • Chromium / analysis
  • Chromium / isolation & purification*
  • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
  • Industrial Waste*
  • Microscopy, Electron, Scanning
  • Silver / chemistry

Substances

  • Industrial Waste
  • Chromium
  • Silver
  • Carbon