Removal of heavy metal ions from aqueous solutions using lignocellulosic wastes derived from selected tree barks

• Main Author: Tiong,, Pei Jen
• Format: Final Year Project Report
• Language: English
• Published: Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, (UNIMAS) 2004
• Subjects: QD Chemistry
• Online Access: http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/46854/1/Tiong%20Pei%20Jen.pdf; http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/46854/

Lead, copper and nickel are heavy metals, which are hazardous in high concentration not only to our environment but also to human beings. Treatment methods for heavy metal pollution were developed using various bark samples. In this study, bark samples of Acacia mangium, Shorea sp. (Light Red Meranti), and Bruguiera cylindrica, were characterised chemically and physically and used for the removal of lead, copper and nickel ions from aqueous solutions. Different bark samples showed considerable variations in their adsorption capacity for various heavy metal ions. Of all bark samples tested, high adsorption capacity of lead metal ions was demonstrated. Batch equilibrium experiment results showed that the highest removal efficiency was 93.86% for lead, 72.80% for copper, and 34.97% for nickel. The highest removal efficiency for lead and copper ions was obtained using bark of Shorea sp. whereas that for nickel was obtained by bark of Bruguiera cylindrica. Metal adsorption capacities by various bark samples were observed to be affected in various extents by the particle size of the adsorbents, the pH of metal solutions and also the initial metal ion concentrations in solutions. The continuous column experiments indicated that the packed bed was able to retain up to 3.97 mg Pb`+/g adsorbent, 3.99 mg Nit+/g adsorbent and 4.00 mg Cue+/g adsorbent for all the bark samples studied. Results showed that lignocellulosic wastes derived from tree bark samples possess high potential to be used as cheap and effective heavy metal ions adsorbents suitable for wastewater treatment.