SORPTION OF METALS BY TREE BARK FROM SYNTHETIC CONTAMINATED WATER

Large quantities of metals and other chemicals are emitted from different industries that result in contamination of water and soils. In Pakistan, majority of the industries discharge wastewater without any treatment and such wastewater is considered the main source of contaminants including several metals like Lead (Pb) and Cadmium (Cd). The plant residue/bark was used as metal sorbent for the removal of metals namely Pb and Cd from synthetic contaminated water in this study. Eucalyptus bark proved to be a cheap sorbent for certain contaminants in previous research studies. The different concentration levels of both metals in solution were 5, 10 and 20 mg L-1 with one gram bark (2-5 mm particle size) per treatment. The highest Pb sorption capacity (almost 100%) was recorded at 10 mg Pb L-1 while that of Cd increased linearly with an increase in influent concentration. This study demonstrated that the application of Eucalyptus bark as sorbent for Pb and Cd metals from contaminated water is cost-effective and environmental friendly technique. It donot involve any hazard associated with its final disposal and economic crisis regarding production and processing as filter. There was an increase in Pb and Cd sorption with progress in contact time (more during the first 80 mins). The Langmuir Isotherms fitted well to Cd sorption data than Freundlich one.