Phosphate adsorption studies using carbon prepared from stem bark of Eucalyptus teriticornis Smith

RemovaJ of phosphate ions was studied using carbon prepared from stem bark of Eucalyptus teriticomis Smith (family Myrtaceae), from aqueous solution. Study was carried out in the batch technique as a function of contact time, phosphate concentration, temperature and pH of the solution. Equilibrium time for studied concentrations was not same. The sorption process follows reversible first order kinetics and fits Langmuir sorption isotherm. The forward rate constants increased with decrease in concentration. Maximum sorption was observed at lower temperature and higher pH. Nature of sorption was exothermic and this was supported by Kd vaJues. Desorption study attd effect of other ions are aJso studied. Phosphorus is generally regarded as the most limiting element for eutrophication 1.2. The possible entry of this ion into aquatic environment is probably in two ways. First one is household sewage water, while second one is industrial effluen~s--parti cularly fertilizer industries which produce phosphate fertilizers . Before discharging these pollutants, it is essential to treat them. Biological methods have been found to be useful, but these are not always successful due to long term biodegradation. Therefore, physico-chemical methods have been adopted in treatment of waste waters. Out of the~e methods, adsorption process plays an important role in water and advanced waste water treatment applications.