Abstract:
Municipal solid waste leachate contains many contaminants like organic pollutants and toxic
metals which cause serious effect on human health and environment. In this study,
concentrations of organic compounds (COD, BOD5), and heavy metals were investigated and
further the removal efficiency of toxic metals including Pb, Cd, Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, Co and Mn by
using agriculture waste including rice husk, peanut hull, wheat straw and corn cob were studied
under batch sorption techniques. The effect of contact time, dosage of adsorbents and pH on
equilibrium adsorption was examined. The concentration of metals was determined by using
atomic adsorption spectroscopy and it was observed that various adsorbents exhibited
differently at various pH levels, contact time and dosage of adsorbents. Peanut hull showed
maximum adsorption efficiency 95 % to 99 % at pH 2, wheat straw showed maximum
adsorption 98 % at basic pH range 9 to 11, rice husk exhibited better adsorption 86 % to
97.8 % at pH range 2 to 7, corn cob showed 90 % at neutral pH 7 and using 4 g / 100 ml dosage
and 4 hours contact time for all adsorbents. Our results revealed that removal of heavy metals
using locally available agriculture waste is cheaper and environmental friendly.
