Vol. 3, Issue 1, Part A (2021)

The physico-chemical tests were conducted using an electroplating industry effluent that contained 18.0, 18.9, 8.6 and 15.6 ppm of Cr(VI), Ni(II), Cu(II) and Zn(II) respectfully. The work aimed to evaluate the feasibility of using powdered pseudo activated carbon prepared from agro wastes for the removal of heavy metals from electroplating effluents. The ability of coconut coir carbon (CCC), sagaun sawdust carbon (SSC), wheat stem carbon (WSC) and rice husk carbon (RHC) to remove heavy metals from the effluent was studied. The sorption was in the order of Ni > Zn > Cu > Cr over a wide range of initial concentrations: 1-20 mg/l at sorbent dose 1 g/l. The sorption increased with increasing contact time but the equilibrium was attained in two hours for Cr, 3.0 h for Cu, 3.5 h for Zn and 4 h for Ni. The order of metal removal capacities for these chemical sorbents was: RHC > CCC > WSC > SSC. Electroplating effluent showed 4-10% lower removal as compared to synthetic standard solution under similar conditions.