Removal of Hexavalent Chromium from Industrial Wastewater Using Adsorbent Prepared from Biomass IPOMOEA CARNEA

Adsorption of hexavalent chromium from the wastewater by activated carbon (AC) synthesized from biomass was extensively studied. The AC was prepared by a cost-effective way from abundantly available biomass IPOMOEA CARNEA (morning glory). The adsorption behaviors of Cr (VI) containing wastewater from chrome plating industry in the range of 100 to 300 mg/L, on biomass were systematically investigated. The formation, morphology, structure, and surface areas were analyzed by FTIR, SEM-EDS, XRD analytical techniques thus to substantiate the suitability of the adsorbent material. Batch experiments studies were carried out by varying adsorptions factors including contact time, temperature, pH, adsorbent dose, initial concentration etc., to resolve the adsorption properties of the AC prepared from biomass. The optimum dosage of 50 g/L at pH 3.5 and contact time 90 min was found to be suitable for adsorptive removal complying the government of India discharge standard of 0.1 and 2 mg/L for hexavalent chromium and total chromium respectively. Kinetically the Freundlich and Langmuir isotherms were found to be suitable for the purpose. The absorption data set closely resembles with Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm. Thus, the biomass IPOMOEA CARNEA used in this work proved to be effective adsorbent materials for the treatment of chromium bearing wastewater.