REMOVAL OF HEAVY METALS IONS FROM MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE LEACHATE BY USING NATURAL ABSORBENTS

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.