Remediation of Cr and Fe from aqueous solution by natural adsorbents

Abstract

Different kinds of low-cost agro based fibres can be used to remove both trace and heavy metals from aqueous solutions. The removal efficiency of maize (Zea mays) cob, sawdust and coal coded as MC, SD and CO respectively was investigated in this study for the bioremediation of chromium and iron. Sorption experiments were carried out using batch process in which changes in concentration of the adsorbates were monitored by the use of Shimadzu AA650 Double Beam Atomic Absorption/Flame spectrophotometer. Effects of varying adsorbent dose, adsorbate loading concentration, pH, and adsorbent surface area were studied. At optimum adsorbent dose, remediation of Cr varies according to CO > SD > MC, while that of Fe varies according to MC > CO > SD. However, on individual adsorbents the remediation efficiency is; on MC Cr has 48.5% while Fe has 100%, while on SD Cr has 97.85% while Fe has 95% and lastly on CO Cr has 98.57% and Fe has 98%. This shows that the adsorbent can selectively be employed for the remediation of the ions from the solutions.