Document Type : Original Research Article

Authors

• Tanmayee Panigrahi
• A.U. Santhoskumar

Department of Chemical Engineering, Dr. MGR Educational & Research Institute University, Madhuravoyal, Chennai-95

Abstract

Heavy metals such as Lead (Pb), Chromium (Cr), Cadmium (Cd) , Copper (Cu), Zinc(Zn), Arsenic(As),Iron (Fe), Mercury (Hg), Magnesium (Mg) and Sulphur (S) are widely used for production of colour pigments of textile dyes. The colossal increase in the use of heavy metals over past few decades is a no doubt a necessary consequence of increased flux of metals in aquatic environment. Removal of these metallic substances has become inevitable to maintain a balance in ecosystem. Many methods are being implemented to remove Heavy metals, among these use of activated carbon have become a very competent process. But heavy cost of the activated carbon has made Heavy metal removal as a great concern. Many researchers have been conducted to remove heavy metals using different materials. Various adsorbents have been used to remove different type of heavy metal ions from wastewater especially those are harmful to mankind. This project work has compared about the efficiency of removing heavy metals by using activated carbon from Prosopis Juliflora bark. Prosopis Juliflora tree is widely known for its extra ordinary character for absorbing water. Activated carbon was prepared from the barks of Prosopis Juliflora by thermal and chemical process. The Textile effluent was collected from Erode area where large stretch of textile industries is situated to conduct the specific experiments. Batch experiments were conducted to analyze Heavy metal elements from the effluent. The results show that this low cost and eco-friendly adsorbents can effectively used for the removal of heavy metals.

Graphical Abstract

Keywords

• Adsorption
• Activated carbon
• Prosopis Juliflora
• Heavy metals

Main Subjects

• Chemical Engineering and applied Chemistry