Removal of Heavy Metals from Petroleum Refinery Effluent Using Coconut Shell-Based Activated Carbon
O.O. Olayebi & A. T. Adebayo
Department of Chemical Engineering
Federal University of Petroleum Resources, P.M.B. 1221, Effurun
Email: olayebi.oluwafemi@fupre.edu.ng , adebayo.ayodeji@fupre.edu.ng
*Corresponding Author: A. T. Adebayo
ABSTRACT
The performance evaluation of locally prepared activated carbon from coconut shell in removing Cr3+, Cu 2+, Pb2+ and Zn2+ions from Petroleum refinery effluent water was studied. The activated carbon produced was chemically activated utilizing Zinc chloride as activating agent. Batch Adsorption studies were carried out to examine the effect of adsorption dosage, contact time, pH and stirring speed on the adsorption ofCr3+, Cu 2+, Pb2+ and Zn2+from Petroleum refinery effluent water. In studying the effect of one factor others were kept constant. The adsorbent was contacted with the adsorbate for time intervals between 30 to 60 minutes. The kinetic studies showed that pseudo – second –order reaction model best described the adsorption process, also the Langmuir adsorption isotherm best fit the adsorption data at equilibrium. Based on the results obtained, it can be concluded that Coconut based activated Carbon is a viable alternative for treating industrial effluent water.
Keywords: Activated carbon, adsorption, heavy metals, kinetic, refining waste water
