A study of remova

1. UNIVERSITI MALAYSIA PAHANG, KUANTAN
Adsorption Studies of Synthetic Batik Dye Using
Granular Activated Carbon in Continuous System
Mohamad Norahiman bin Abdurahman, Dr. Anwaruddin Hisyam
Faculty of Chemical and Natural Resources Engineering, Universiti Malaysia Pahang
Lebuhraya Tun Razak, 26300 Kuantan, Pahang.
E-mail: iman5031@yahoo.com
Abstract
Wastewater pollution is always consider as dangerous because it has been affected by the hazardous or
dangerous chemicals and release to the water source such as rivers, lakes and oceans. There are several ways to
treat the waste water. It consists of physical, chemical and biological method. The continuous adsorption in fixed-
bed column is often desired from industrial point of view. It is simple to operate and can be scaled-up from
laboratory process. The flow behaviour and mass transfer aspects become peculiar beyond a particular length to
diameter ratio of the column.
Keywords: adsorption, adsorbent, adsorbate, methylene blue(MB)
1. INTRODUCTION operation was held, the process involved a lot of
The industries nowadays gives severe impact to our chemicals substance. After the process was finished,
nature by producing a lot of pollution that have the all the waste dyes will be removed by make it flow
tendency to brings more harmful than good such as down to the rivers or lakes. The wastes coming from
air pollution, sound pollution and water pollution. these industries can effect on our environment and
Water pollution is one of the serious environmental causing pollution.
issues because it can cause problem to the clean There are several ways to treat the waste water. It
water production and also can contributes to the consists of physical, chemical and biological method.
shortage of clean water supplies. Water pollution Microbial degradation, activated sludge and bio film
occurs when the physicals and chemicals properties process are the examples of biological method, which
of the water are change or in the other word is, there accepted for its potentialities but applicable only to
is a contamination in the water such as lakes, rivers, lower concentration range. Meanwhile, the chemical
oceans and also ground water. and physical methods such as solvent extraction,
Wastewater pollution is always consider as precipitation, filtration, adsorption, and chemical
dangerous because it has been affected by the oxidation are normally used to treat pollutants
hazardous or dangerous chemicals and release to the especially organic compounds and heavy metals.
water source such as rivers, lakes and oceans. The Adsorption is a fundamental process
lack of clean water has always been an issue of physicochemical treatment of municipal wastewaters,
environmental concern all over the world. This a treatment which can economically meet today's
environmental issue is mainly stressed in developing higher effluent standards and water reuse
countries today. Just imagine what would happen for requirements. At the same time, if large volumes of
the future life if no action will take to control the wastewater are involved, treatment processes are
wastewater pollution. It can affect our sustainable carried out on continuously flowing wastewaters.
nature and at the same time our source of clean Even though the costing is quite high, it can improve
water is not enough to meets the needs of the human the quality of the treatment.
from days to days. The wastewater pollution is Although the dye is not regarded as a very toxic
commonly produced by domestic residences, dye, MB can have various harmful effects on human
commercial properties, industry, and agriculture. The being and animals. Once inhaled, it can cause heart
unwanted contaminant in the wastewater can be rate increasing, nausea and vomiting [6]. It is
dangerous to the aquatic and human health. It might generally used for dyeing cotton, wool, and silk. MB
contain the heavy metal in different concentrations can cause eye burns in humans and animals,
and pH values that are dangerous. There are many methemoglobinemia, cyanosis, convulsions,
industries that contribute to the wastewater pollution tachycardia, dyspnea, irritation to the skin, and if
and textile industry is a part of it. ingested, irritation to the gastrointestinal tract,
The textile industry has been condemned as being nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea [21]
one of the world’s worst offenders in terms of pollution Adsorption is more approachable and easy to run
because it requires a huge amount of two due to the price of adsorbent that usually is cheap
components which is chemicals. Water is used and does not require a pre-treatment step before its
transmit the chemicals used during that step and to application [7]. A lot of researchers believes this
wash them out before beginning the next step. The treatment is to be far more superior than others due
water is then expelled as wastewater. It will pollute to variety reasons.
the environment. When the colouring textile’s

2. 2. MATERIALS AND METHOD Based on table 4.0, the calibration curve for
methylene blue solution is produced according to
2.1 Material various concentration. Then, the absorbance result is
read by UV-Vis Spectrophotometer. The wavelength
2.1.1 Adsorbent of methylene blue is used in this research is 665 nm.
Sample is taken from anynomous previous The calibration is generated to measure the initial
researcher UMP. concentration of absorbance at certain concentration.
2.1.2 Adsorbate Then, this result of absorbance is used to calculate
Sample is taken from Natural Batik Village SDN. BHD the final concentration in order to determine the
which has a 1612.36 ppm concentration. It was percentage or MB removal.
diluted to 6.56 ppm, 10 ppm, 20 ppm, 30 ppm, and 40 Table 4.0 Standard Solution Preparation
ppm. Wavelength of MB is 665 nm. Absorbance Concentration, ppm
0.293 1
2.2 Experimental Method 0.447 2
0.800 5
2.2.1Initial Concentration 1.548 10
Three column were connected in series were filled
with activated carbon sample to a height of 26
cm(please refer to figure B-6 in Appendix B).The
experiment will be conducted at the temperature of ±
27ºCThe storage tank is filled with 12.3 L of
methylene blue of 6 ppm concentration.The
experiment is conducted and wait for 2 hours.The exit
solution is collected.The experiment is repeated by
using 10 ppm, ppm, 20 ppm, 30 ppm and 40 ppm.
Tank
S
Figure 4 Standard Curve
Pump
3.2 Initial Concentration
Control parameter : Time (2 hour)
Initial Absorba Final Percenta
Concentration, nce Concentrati ge of MB
ppm on, ppm removal,
Figure 2: Schematic diagram of continuous %
6 0.990 5.86 72.6
adsorption process 10 0.252 1.644 86.4
20 0.306 1.364 80.35
30 0.700 3.93 83.63
2.2.2 Contact time 40 0.849 4.91 87.7
The similar procedures is repeated, with 6.56 as MB
concentration. The experiment is started for 1 hour.
The exit solution is collected. The experiment is
repeated and record next sample will be run at 15, 30,
45, 60, 75, 90, 150, 176 minutes. .
2.2.3UV-Vis Analysis
The mixture is filtered just to make sure no more
alienated compound. Samples of each solution are
taken for UV-Vis analysis to determine the
concentration of methylene blue remaining in the
solution, C2. The data, C2 is recorded. The
percentage of removal of methylene blue is calculated
by using this equation:
Percentage of removal methylene blue,
%=(changes of concentration/initial concentration) ×
100
3. RESULT AND DISCUSSION
3.1 Standard Curve
Figure 5 Percentage versus initial concentration

3. adsorb the dye is quite slow. This may be due to the
Even though in this research is continuous, still the treatment process.
outcome will be quite same. Hence, initial The data showed that the prepared activated
concentration gives an important driving force to carbon has considerable potential for the removal of
tackle all mass transfer resistances of the methylene MB from aqueous solution. This research has proved
blue between the aqueous and solid phases[6]. The that adsorption of MB on treated Coconut Shell can
higher the methylene blue concentration is, the be an alternative method in wastewater treatment.
stronger the driving forces of the concentration .
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