PACKED BED REACTOR SYSTEM STUDY ON THE BIOSORPTION OF Cr(VI) FROM AQUEOUS SOLUTION USING CORN COB POWDER

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Date
2015-05
Authors
UKUWA, Stella
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Abstract
ABSTRACT The current method used in the treatment of Cr(VI) uses biosorbents that are expensive hence the need for cheaper available biosorbent. In this study,potential use of corn cob powder biomass, as a bioremediation agent for the removal of Cr(VI) was investigated in a packed bed column bioreactor. The effects of the operating parameters such as influent Cr(VI) concentration, pH, biomass concentration, flow rate and temperature, on the Cr(VI) removal were investigated in the continuous system using a packed-bed reactor. Percentage removal curves were obtained for different flow rate, pH, temperature, biomass concentration and initial concentration of Cr(VI). It was found that the adsorption of Cr(VI) to the biomass was strongly dependent on these parameters, as expected. In particular, the influent pH and temperature were most significantly affected leading toa high percentage removal of Cr(VI); a decrease in the influent pH of 2, and an increase in the temperature up to 70°C enhanced the Cr(VI) reduction in the column significantly (P<0.05) up to 70 ± 11.39 %. A flow rate of 5min/ml was optimum for higher removal percentage. FTIR spectra analysis carried out on the biosorbent showed the presence of some functional group; hydroxyl (OH), carboxylic (COOH), ethyne (CH), and ethane (CH2) groups which are responsible for the biosorption reaction in the column. Both Langmuir and Freundlich adsorption isotherms fitted reasonably well with the data and showed high correlation coefficient (R2 ) values of 0.993 and 0.985 respectively. These results show that, the adsorbent can be used as a low cost alternative in biosorption of wastewaters containing lowerconcentrations of Cr(VI).Finally, the potential of the column packed with corncobbiomass for Cr(VI) detoxification has been viii found to be a good biosorbent in removal of Cr(VI) from aqueous solutions and also in the treatment of Cr(VI) containing industrial waste
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A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE SCHOOL OF POSTGRADUATE STUDIES AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF A MASTER OF SCIENCE DEGREE IN BIOCHEMISTRY DEPARTMENT OF BIOCHEMISTRY, FACULTY OF SCIENCE AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA NIGERIA
Keywords
PACKED, BED REACTOR, BIOSORPTION, AQUEOUS, CORN COB, POWDER
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