Removal of Copper Using Microwave Incinerated Rice Husk Ash (MIRHA) In Continuous Flow Activated Sludge System

Copper is being widely used in a variety of textile, steel and dyes industries. Wastewater contains copper and organic matters need to be treated prior to discharge to the environment, else it could pose adverse health effects to human. Current heavy metals removal methods, such as adsorption by...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Khaw, Seek Guan
Format: Final Year Project
Language:English
Published: Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS 2011
Subjects:
Online Access:http://utpedia.utp.edu.my/10120/1/2011%20Bachelor%20-%20Removal%20Of%20Cooper%20Using%20Microwave%20Incenerated%20Rice%20Husk%20Ash%20%28MIRHA%29%20In%20Continuous.pdf
http://utpedia.utp.edu.my/10120/
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Summary:Copper is being widely used in a variety of textile, steel and dyes industries. Wastewater contains copper and organic matters need to be treated prior to discharge to the environment, else it could pose adverse health effects to human. Current heavy metals removal methods, such as adsorption by activated carbon, ion exchange, reverse osmosis, chemical precipitation and nanofiltration, are expensive, unable to completely remove heavy metals and involve high energy and chemical consumption. The purpose of this research is to propose the removal of copper and organic matters using biological treatment system, dosed with Microwave Incinerated Rice husk Ash (MIRRA) adsorbent. The objectives are to study if MIRRA is capable to delay the toxicity effect of copper and the feasibility of using MIRRA as low cost copper adsorbent in activated sludge system. The research is carried out by conducting experiments using 2 scaled down biological reactor. Medium strength wastewater dosed with copper at dosage of 0.5 mg/L, 1.0 mg/L, 2.0 mg!L, 5.0 mg/L and 10.0 mg/L is used as influent. The reactor is run in Extended Aeration Activated Sludge mode. The result shows that MIRRA adsorbent has improved the overall performance of biological treatment system in term of organic matters (TCOD & BOD) removal, copper removal and improved the growth of microbes in the activated sludge system. With MIRRA adsorbent and gradual acclimatization, microbes are capable to withstand copper concentration up to 5.0 mg/L, as compared to 2.0 mg/L without MIRRA. Besides, it is also concluded that acclimatization is capable to improve microbes' tolerance toward copper toxicity from 1.0 mg/L to 2.0 mg!L in Extended Aeration Activated Sludge system. In short, Extended Aeration Activated Sludge system dosed with MIRRA adsorbent is a new approach toward removal of copper and organic matters in wastewater that contains copper concentration up to 5. 0 mg/L.