PHENOL ADSORPTION CAPACITIES OF DIFFERENT MEDIA

Abstract

In past the conventional processes were considered to provide complete treatment of wastewater. But today more strict rules have been passed to control the water pollution all over the world. There are many instances today where reii.ovai of refractory organics from w:Istewaters is needed which are not removed by the conventional process-es such as Activated Sludge Processes and Trickling Filtration. In order to alleviate pollution or to perMit reuse of the treated wastewater, for the removal of the organic refractories, process of adsorption forms, a very promising method. While adsorption of pollutants by Activated Carbon is commonly used. But its high cost of procurement has encour-aged investigation on other cheaper adsorbents. Adsorptive capacities of Vermiculite, Bituminous coal, Surkhi, Calcium Carbonate, Multani clay etc., although low, as compared to Activated carbon, have been studied here. These studies have been done on a batch process, and phenol has been used as the adsorbate. The results have been plotted and discussed for these materials. Residual phenol concentration in Solution was measured by direct photometric method. The adsorption capacity of these materials although hos been fOund to be quite low as compared to that for Activated carbon, it may be economical in some situations,. These media are recommended for further investigations with or without activation because these may be considered as promising adsorbents in a number of situations