Thermodynamics and Adsorption Efficiencies of Maize Cob and Sawdust for the Remediation of Toxic Metals from Wastewater

Published Date

DOI: 10.4236/gep.2013.12004

Author(s)    

Muhammad B. Ibrahim

Affiliation(s)

Department of Pure and Industrial Chemistry, Bayero University, Kano, Nigeria.

ABSTRACT

The thermodynamics and sorption efficiencies for the remediation of Cr, Ni and Cd from their aqueous solutions using Maize Cob (MC) and Sawdust (SD) in a batch system are reported. Efficiencies were judged based on parameters such as sorbent weight, initial adsorbate loading concentration, pH and surface area. Shimadzu AA650 Double Beam Atomic Absorption/Flame spectrophotometer was employed to study concentration differences before and after the adsorption process. Parameters such as ΔH, ΔS and ΔG were determined. On MC, ΔH varied as 1466.59, 1271.21 and 1347.70kJmol^-1 for Cr, Ni and Cd respectively. While on SD it varied as -566.85, 256.32 and 888.77kJmol^-1respectively for the same order of metal ions. The three ions were found to be chemisorbed onto MC, while on SD Cr and Ni were physisorbed and Cd remains chemisorbed as suggested by Freundlich isotherm.

KEYWORDS

Adsorbate; Adsorbent; Maize Cob; % Removal; Sawdust; Wastewater

Cite this paper

B. Ibrahim, M. (2013) Thermodynamics and Adsorption Efficiencies of Maize Cob and Sawdust for the Remediation of Toxic Metals from Wastewater. Journal of Geoscience and Environment Protection, 1, 18-21. doi: 10.4236/gep.2013.12004.

References

[1]	Abdel-Ghani, N. T., Hefny, M., & El-Chaghaby, G. A. F. (2007). Removal of lead from aqueous solution using low cost abundantly available adsorbent. International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology, 4, 67-73. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF03325963
[2]	Adie, D. B., Okuofu, C. A., & Osakwe, C. (2012). Comparative analysis of the adsorption of heavy metals in wastewater using Borrassus Aethiopium and Cocos Nucifera. International Journal of Applied Science and Technology, 2, 314-322.
[3]	Ibrahim, M. B., & Jimoh, W. L. O. (2008). Adsorption studies for the removal of Cr(VI) ions from aqueous solution. Bayero Journal of Pure and Applied Sciences, 1, 99-103.
[4]	Kehinde, O. O., Oluwatoyin, T. A., & Aderonke, O. O. (2009). Comparative analysis of the efficiencies of two low cost adsorbents in the removal of Cr(VI) and Ni(II) from aqueous solution. African Journal of Environmental Science and Technology, 3, 360-369.
[5]	Khan, N. A., Ibrahim, S., & Subrama-niam, P. (2004). Elimination of heavy metals from wastewater using agricultural wastes as adsorbents. Malaysian Journal of Science, 23, 43-51.
[6]	Omar, W., & Al-Itawi, H. (2007). Removal of Pb2+ ions from aquoues solutions by adsorption on kaolinite clay. American Journal of Applied Sciences, 4, 502-507. http://dx.doi.org/10.3844/ajassp.2007.502.507
[7]	Rafika, S., Djilali, T., Benchreit, B., & Ali, B. (2009). Adsorption of heavy metals (Cd, Zn and Pb) from water using keratin powder prepared from algerien sheep hoofs. European Journal of Scientific Research, 35, 416-425.
[8]	Shukla, A., Zhang, Y., Dubey, P., Margrave, J. L., & Shukla, S. S. (2002). The role of sawdust in the removal of unwanted materials from water. Journal of Harzadous Materials, B95, 137-152. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0304-3894(02)00089-4
[9]	Sun, G., & Shi, W. (1998). Sunflower stalks as adsorbents for the removal of metal ions from wastewater. Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Research, 37, 1324-1328. http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/ie970468j
[10]	Todorovi, Z., Pol, P., Dgordjevi, D., & Autoni, J. S. (2001). Lead distribution in water and its association with sediments constituents of the Baije Lake. Journal of the Serbian Chemical Society, 66, 697- 708.
[11]	Wan Ngah, W. S., & Hanafiah, M. A. K. M. (2008). Removal of heavy metal ions from wastewater by chemically Modified plant wastes as adsorbents: A review. Bioresource Technology, 99, 3935-3948. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2007.06.011
[12]	Zhou, X., Xue, X., & Xue, X. (2011). Study on adsorption of heavy metal ion in metallurgical wastewater by sepiolite. Proceedings of the 2nd International Conference on Environmental Science and Development, Singapore, 100-103.

For further details log on website :
http://www.scirp.org/journal/PaperInformation.aspx?PaperID=39230