Biologically Degradable Adsorbents in Treatment of Coloured Wastewater

Abstract

In this research, the adsorption capacity of biodegradable wastes such as peels of lemon, orange, mandarin, avocado, apples, banana and over-matured banana in the treatment of coloured wastewaters polluted with direct dye and with pigment screen printing ink was studied. Their adsorption capacity was compared with already established adsorbents such as activated carbon, zeolite, alumina and chitosan. The efficiency of the adsorption treatment was evaluated by a spectrophotometric measurement of colour removal of the wastewater. In both coloured wastewaters, dried banana and dried ground lemon peel proved to be excellent biodegradable adsorbents, which were even more effective than commercially used activated carbon. The dried ground orange, mandarin and apple peels also showed adsorption abilities in the coloured wastewaters. In the water contaminated with dye, the equally high level of discoloration obtained with lemon peel and dried banana was also reached with chitosan and alumina.

Keywords

• treatment
• wastewater
• adsorption
• biodegradable adsorbent
• direct dye
• printing ink