Batch Adsorption Assessment of Neem Nut Carbon for Abating Chromium(VI) in Wastewater
S. Sophie Beulah *
Government College of Engineering, Tirunelveli – 627 007 Tamilnadu, India.
K. Muthukumaran
Government College of Technology, Coimbatore – 641 013 Tamilnadu, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Discharge of Cr(VI) laden effluents is highly toxic and decontaminating the wastewater from Cr(VI) is necessary for Environmental Protection. An investigation on the adsorption characteristics of activated carbon prepared from neem nut (NNC) for the removal of Cr(VI) from wastewater by varying the parameters such as carbon dose, pH, equilibration time by batch studies was found to be effective for the removal of Cr(VI) from wastewater. Carbon characteristics of activated neem nut carbon were ascertained. Evaluation were done by varying the pH from 1 to 6, carbon dose from 0.1 g to 0.5 g and equilibration time from 1 to 6 hours. Maximum Cr(VI) removal of 95% took place when batch studies were done at an optimal pH of 2, carbon dose of 0.2 g//100mL, and equilibration time of 4 hours. Freundlich and Langmuir adsorption isotherm models were considered for analysis.
Keywords: Neem nut carbon, Adsorption, Chromium(VI) removal, Carbon characteristics, Batch studies, Isotherm studies