Activated Arachis hypogea With Enhanced Multi Metal Sorption Capacity from Synthetic and Electroplating Industrial Wastewater: Batch and Column Mode

Activated Arachis hypogea shell powder was employed for desalinating Cr (VI), Cu (II) and Ni (II) from synthetic and electroplating industrial wastewater. The effects of pH, contact time, adsorbent dose, initial metal ion concentration and temperature on the biosorption was studied in batch mode. Freundlich and Langmuir isotherm models were applied to study the batch equilibrium data and the best fitting was observed with Langmuir isotherm model. The maximum biosorption capacity for Cr (VI), Cu (II) and Ni (II) was found to be 131.57, 128.20 and 129.87 -1 + + mg g at pH 2.0, 5.0, 6.0 respectively. The release of Na , K , 2+ 2+ Mg and Ca from the unactivated Activated Arachis hypogea shell powder supported ion exchange as the foremost mechanism of biosorption. Column studies were carried out at specific pH, flow rate and varying bed depth using the electroplating industrial wastewater. The metal uptake capacity and volume of water treated was found to be maximum with bed depth of 20.0 cm and flow rate of 0.5 -1 mL min in all three columns. This study revealed that activated Arachis hypogea shell powder is an excellent biosorbent for desalinating heavy metal ions from industrial wastewater and can be used at commercial level.