Investigating the efficiency of orange peel powder as an adsorbent for removal of zinc ions in industrial waste water.

Abstract

The efficiency of activated carbon from orange peel powder as a low cost adsorbent to remove zinc(II) ions from industrial waste water at steel and tube industry was investigated in this research. The factors of adsorbent load. PH, contact time and agitation rate on the control solution were studied at room temperature. This research showed that orange peel is a good adsorbent for the removal of zinc ions from industrial wastewater where by zinc(Il) ions uptake increased with increased adsorbent load, pH, contact time and zinc uptake decreased with increase in agitation rate. The maximum uptake of zinc ions was at adsorbent load of 0.25g, pH of 3 and contact time of120minutesandagitationrateof150rpmachievinganaverageefficiencyof83.75%. The economic analysis showed that orange peel powder was more cost effective and achieving the Same efficiency of treating zinc from industrial waste water was 17times cheaper with orange peel Powder than with commercial activated carbon. Hence more economically viable to use orange peel powder to remove zinc(II) ions from industrial wastewater.