GURUPRASHANTH N., UDAYAKUMAR G. AND SURESH B.
Abstract
Environment is contaminated by heavy-metals has emerged as a substantial global concern. Conventional remediation methods have proven inadequate and costly in addressing this issue. Hence, there is a pressing need to explore bioremediation as a cost-effective, efficient, and environmental friendly, an alternative for heavy- metal removal. This study investigates the adsorption behaviour of Arecanut Husk (AH), an inexpensive adsorbent, towards Cu and Zn ions for potential application in wastewater treatment. The physicochemical properties of unmodified Arecanut Husk were appraised, and batch experimental methods were employed to study variables such as pH, contact-time, particle size, initial content of metal. The impact of solution pH on metal ion uptake by the adsorbent was investigated on the pH range of 3 to 8, revealing optimal removal efficiencies at pH 6 for Cu and pH 5 for Zn. Equilibrium adsorption times were determined to be 80 minutes for Cu and 60 minutes for Zn ions onto Arecanut Husk. Adsorption capacities is corresponding to monolayer coverage, attained from the Langmuir plots were 4.792 mg/g and 4.594 mg/g correspondingly for Cu and Zn ions onto the Arecanut Husk. Experimental results were confirmed to the Langmuir and Freundlich models, with the Langmuir model providing the best fit. The Arecanut Husk based adsorbent was generally found to have an increased capacity of adsorption of the metal ions. These findings underscore the potential of Arecanut Husk as an active adsorbent to remove cationic heavy-metal contents from industrial wastewater.