Treatment of a textile effluent by adsorption with cork granules and titanium dioxide nanomaterial

ABSTRACT

This study aimed to explore the efficiency of two adsorbents, cork granules with different granulometry and titanium dioxide nanomaterial, in the removal of chemical oxygen demand (COD), colour and toxicity from a textile effluent. The adsorption assays with cork were unsatisfactory in the removal of chemical parameters however they eliminated the acute toxicity of the raw effluent to Daphnia magna. The assay with TiO₂ NM did not prove to be efficient in the removal of colour and COD even after 240 min of contact; nevertheless it also reduced the raw effluent toxicity. The best approach for complete remediation of the textile effluent has not yet been found however promising findings were achieved, which may be an asset in future adsorption assays.

KEYWORDS:

• Textile effluents
• adsorption
• cork
• titanium dioxide nanoparticles
• toxicity

Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge to Amorim Cork Composites SA (Portugal) and the Innovation Network Manager Susana Silva for the supply of cork granules.

Additional information

Funding

This research was partially supported by the Strategic Funding of CIIMAR-UP (UID/Multi/04423/2013) through national funds provided by FCT – Foundation for Science and Technology and European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), in the framework of the program PT2020. Financial support to CESAM (UID/AMB/50017), from FCT/MEC through national funds (IF/00407/2013/CP1162/CT0023), and co-funding by the FEDER, within the PT2020 Partnership Agreement and Compete 2020 is acknowledged.