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Abstract
The present work investigates comparative adsorption efficiency of powdered cone biomass of Picea smithiana (PCBP) and activated charcoal (AC) for removal of hexavalent chromium (Cr) (Cr(VI)) from aqueous solution. The study indicates that PCBP has 76% removal efficiency for Cr as compared to AC. Particle size and SEM-EDX analyses were done to determine average particle size, surface morphology and elemental composition of PCBP. BET and FTIR analysis were carried out to elucidate the adsorption mechanism of Cr(VI) on PCBP. Ashing has been proposed as a method for managing waste of loaded PCBP generated in adsorption. Ashing studies showed the ash content of PCBP to contribute only 13% of the ash generated from loaded biomass. Further, a comparative study has been made indicating the adsorption efficiency of PCBP with previously reported bio-waste materials. The results of this study show that PCBP has high adsorption efficiency as compared to other bio-waste materials.
Acknowledgement
Ms Upma Vaid and Gh Nabi Najar are highly thankful to the Central University of Punjab for granting the University fellowship for PhD programme. We are extremely thankful to Director, Wadia Institute of Himalyan Geology, Dehradun, and his other staff members for providing us Laser beam particle size analysis and SEM-EDX facility for physico-chemical characterization of the material. We are also thankful to CSIR-Central Salt & Marine Chemical Research Institute, Bhavnagar, Gujarat, for BET analysis. We extend our thanks to Director, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education & Research, Sector-67, S.A.S. Nagar, Mohali, for providing us elemental analysis (CHNS) facility. We thank Dr A.L. Sharma, Center for Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Central University of Punjab, Bathinda, Punjab (India), for helping us in the interpretation of FTIR results. We are also thankful to Dr Neetu Purohit, PhD (English), Research Associate, Centre for Comparative Literature, Central University of Punjab, Bathinda, Punjab (India), for proof reading the manuscript for typographic and linguistic errors.