CuO Coated Electrochemically Generated Textile Wastewater Sludge and CuO Coated GAC as Potential Nano-adsorbents for Color Removal from Real Textile Wastewater

Abstract

A laboratory scale setup was used to remove color from real textile wastewater (TWW) using nano CuO coated electrochemically generated sludge and nano CuO coated GAC. ECC studies were conducted in batch-mode to generate sludge treating real TWW using pre-optimized 4SS electrodes using a 1.5L reactor operated at cell voltage of 18V and current density 180A/m2 at an agitation speed of 500rpm for 60min electrolysis time. SEM, FTIR and XRD analysis confirmed CuO material successfully coated/decorated on electrochemically generated sludge of size ~0.3-0.5mm and GAC of size ~0.5mm. To check the color removal efficiencies from TWW the batch adsorption studies were conducted for adsorbent dose, stirring time and pH. The optimal operating conditions achieved at pH-4, dose of 0.6g/L and 30min contact time for CuO-sludge nano-adsorbent achieving 50-55% color removal. Similarly, for CuO-GAC nano-adsorbent the optimal conditions obtained at pH-4, 0.5 g/L dose and 20min contact time achieving ~100% removal.