COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF REMOVAL OF HEAVY METAL IONS AND ORGANIC RESIDUES IN INDUSTRIAL WASTEWATER BY USING ABSORBENT MATTER (BIOCHAR) AND/OR CO-AGULANT SURFACTANTS (CATIONIC SURFACTANTS)

Abstract

With the rapid industrialization and civilization, different contaminants are released to wastewater including heavy metals, and organic pollutants, which they have serious harms to human health. There is serious need for finding suitable methods for purification wastewater. In this work, corncob biochar was used as a solid adsorbent for removal of Pb, Ni, Zn, Cd ions and 4-nitrophenol from industrial wastewater through batch techniques. The influences of biochar dose, pH, concentration of pollutants, and contact time with biochar on removal percentages were investigated. Optimum removal of Pb, Ni, Zn and Cd ions was achieved at biosorbent dose (2 g/L), pH 6.5 and contact time (90 min.).