Title: Use of chemically treated sawdust for chromium removal from aqueous solutions: effect of process parameters

Authors: Manjeet Bansal; Diwan Singh; V.K. Garg

Addresses: Department of Civil Engineering, National Institute of Technology, Kurukshetra 136119, India ' Department of Civil Engineering, National Institute of Technology, Kurukshetra 136119, India ' Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guru Jambheshwar University of Science and Technology, Hisar 125001, Haryana, India

Abstract: This paper reports the effect of various process parameters on the removal of chromium from aqueous solution using formaldehyde-treated timber industry waste (sawdust). The adsorbent was characterised by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Energy Dispersive X-Ray Analysis (EDAX). Influence of chromium concentration, pH, adsorbent dose and contact time on chromium removal from aqueous solution has been investigated. Maximum chromium removal was 83.5% at pH 2 with 20 g L^-1 adsorbent dose and 120 min contact time. Reusability of the adsorbent was examined by desorption in which HCl eluted 76% chromium from exhausted adsorbent.

Keywords: adsorption; chemically treated sawdust; pH; desorption; wastewater treatment; chemical treatment; chromium removal; aqueous solutions; process parameters; timber industry; waste treatment; reusability.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEWM.2012.048370

International Journal of Environment and Waste Management, 2012 Vol.10 No.2/3, pp.190 - 200

Published online: 13 Dec 2014 *

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