Evaluation of waste based inorganic filters for micropollutant removal
Student name: Ms Poulami Choudhury
Guide: Dr Arun Kansal
Year of completion: 2010
Host Organisation: The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI)
Supervisor (Host Organisation): Dr Malini Balakrishnan and Dr Vidya S Batra
Abstract: Phenol and its derivatives are considered as an important class of organic pollutants as they are
harmful to humans, aquatic life and water bodies even at low concentrations .Various
physicochemical and biological treatment technologies are available for removal of phenols and
among these adsorption occupies a prominent place. Commercial activated carbon is the most
preferred adsorbent for removal of micropollutants like phenol from aqueous phase due to its
large surface area, porosity and variable surface chemistry. But due to high cost associated with
its regeneration process, attempts are made to use low cost carbonaceous waste based materials
like bagasse fly ash as alternatives to activated carbon for adsorption of various pollutants like
dyes, toxic metal ions and other organic compounds from wastewater. Utilization of fly ash is
cost effective and environmentally beneficial as concerns related to its disposal are significantly
reduced.
The present study investigates the use of bagasse fly ash ceramic filters, powdered bagasse fly
ash powder and carbon membrane filters prepared by coating ceramic filters with carbons for
phenol removal from aqueous phase. Batch studies were conducted to examine the effect of
contact time, initial solute concentration, adsorbent dose and pH on phenol uptake .The results
show that both ceramic filters and powdered bagasse fly ash minus unburnt carbon fail to adsorb
phenol from aqueous solution. This indicates that the mineral matter present in bagasse fly ash
samples does not possess phenol adsorption capacity. Carbon membrane filters show sufficiently
high adsorption capacity and phenol removal efficiency. Phenol removal with these carbon
membrane filters showed significant increase with increase in adsorbent dose and slight decline
above pH 8.
Keywords: Phenol removal; Adsorption; Bagasse fly ash; Activated carbon;
Batch studies
