European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

REMOVAL OF NICKEL FROM WASTEWATER USING LOW COST ADSORBENT

Spurthi L, T Brahmaiah, K S Sai Prasad*, Chandrika K, Kausalya Chandra L, and Yashas S,

ABSTRACT

Heavy metal toxicity due to industrial wastewater has been a threat to the environment for the past many decades, especially in the developing countries such as India, China and Thailand, where cost effectiveness of the removal process is a major factor. In this research, adsorption experiments were carried out using rice straw as an agricultural residue to adsorb Ni. Rice straw was treated in order to increase their metal-binding capacity. The adsorption process is affected by various parameters such as contact time, pH of the solution, and adsorbent dosage. Adsorption isotherms were modeled with the Langmuir, Freundlich and Temkin isotherms. Results indicated that rice straw appeared to be the most practical use for adsorption of Ni from waste water. The modified rice straws could adsorb Ni faster than unmodified.

Keywords: Rice Straw (RS), Adsorption, Sodium Hydroxide, Isotherms.