Removal of Lead Ions from Aqueous Solutions by Different Types of Industrial Waste Materials: Equilibrium and Kinetic Studies

Abstract

A comparative study of the adsorbents prepared from several industrial wastes for the removal of Pb²⁺ has been carried out. Fertilizer industry waste viz. carbon slurry and steel plant wastes viz. blast furnace (B.F.) slag, dust, and sludge were investigated as low‐cost adsorbents after proper treatment in the present study. The adsorption of Pb²⁺ on different adsorbents has been found in the order: B.F. sludge>B.F. dust>B.F. slag>carbonaceous adsorbent. The least adsorption of Pb²⁺ on carbonaceous adsorbent even having high porosity and consequently greater surface area as compared to other three adsorbents, indicates that surface area and porosity are not important factors for Pb²⁺ removal from aqueous solutions. The adsorption of Pb²⁺ has been studied as a function of contact time, concentration, and temperature. The adsorption has been found to be exothermic, and the data conform to the Langmuir equation. The kinetic results reveal that the present adsorption system follows Lagergren's first order rate equation. Since all three waste products from the steel industry show higher potential to remove lead from water, therefore, it is suggested that these metallurgical wastes can be fruitfully employed as low‐cost adsorbents for effluent treatment containing toxic metal ions.

Keywords:

• Steel plant wastes
• fertilizer industry waste
• low‐cost adsorbents
• lead removal
• equilibrium and kinetic studies

Acknowledgement

The authors are thankful to Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India for financial support.