Efficacy of Acid-Modified Sawdust in Decolourization of Tanning Waste Water

Abstract

Colour removal from dye-bearing effluent is a serious challenge due to the difficulty in treating such wastewater by conventional treatment methods. The present investigation explores the decolourization of contaminated wastewater using saw dust as an adsorbent. The physicochemical properties of waste water samples labelled A, B and C viz average temperature; pH; electrical conductivity; and total dissolved solids were 302.63; 6.1; 284.47 µS/cm; 35116.66 mg/L respectively. Colour removal efficiency of the adsorbent was studied under variable conditions (contact time, rate of agitation, loading). Experimental results demonstrated that the sawdust adsorbent has a significant capacity for colour removal from tannery effluent. There was significant variation in the absorbance of the treated samples. Adsorbent dose, stirring rate and contact time showed significant effects in colour removal.