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Coir pith activated carbon for the removal of dyes, organics and heavy metals from aqueous solutions

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dc.contributor.advisor Amarasinghe, BMWPK
dc.contributor.author Dhanusekera, DW
dc.date.accessioned 2011-07-19T06:25:11Z
dc.date.available 2011-07-19T06:25:11Z
dc.identifier.citation Dhanusekera, D.W. (2008). Coir pith activated carbon for the removal of dyes, organics and heavy metals from aqueous solutions [Master's theses, University of Moratuwa]. Institutional Repository University of Moratuwa. http://dl.lib.mrt.ac.lk/handle/123/1724
dc.identifier.uri http://dl.lib.mrt.ac.lk/handle/123/1724
dc.description.abstract Adsorption of textile dyes, organics and heavy metals onto coir pith based adsorbents from aqueous solutions were studied. Raw coir pith and thermally activated coir pith at 700°C were used as adsorbents. Batch experiments showed that both adsorbents are capable of binding appreciable amounts of impurities from aqueous solutions. Thermally activated coir pith was superior to raw coir pith for dyes and phenol removal. Heavy metal adsorption capacities for both adsorbents were similar. Batch adsorption experiments were conducted in detail for dye removal to determine the factors affecting adsorption and kinetics of the process. Fixed bed column experiments were performed to study practical applicability and breakthrough curves were obtained. The maximum adsorption was observed at solution pH values between 5-9 for Methylene blue and Malachite green. Solution pH value of 2 showed maximum adsorption for Nylosan blue. The adsorbent to solution ratio and the dye concentration in the solution affect the degree of dye removal. The equilibrium data were satisfactorily fitted to Freundlich isotherm. The kinetic data fits to pseudo second order model and kinetic parameters were calculated. Column experiments showed 'S' shaped breakthrough curves and the results followed Bed Depth Service Time (BDST) model. Fixed bed adsorption capacities were lower compared to batch experiments.
dc.language.iso en en_US
dc.subject CHEMICAL AND PROCESS ENGINEERING - Thesis
dc.subject ADSORBENTS
dc.subject ADSORPTION
dc.subject CARBON - Activated
dc.subject WATER TREATMENT - Colour Removal
dc.subject HEAVY METAL COMPOUNDS
dc.subject ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
dc.subject COIR MILLS
dc.subject INDUSTRIAL WASTES
dc.title Coir pith activated carbon for the removal of dyes, organics and heavy metals from aqueous solutions
dc.type Thesis-Abstract
dc.identifier.faculty Engineering en_US
dc.identifier.degree MSc en_US
dc.identifier.department Department of Chemical Engineering en_US
dc.date.accept 2008
dc.identifier.accno 92926 en_US


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