High efficiency removal of heavy metals and organic pollutants from brassware using raw coal: Kinetic adsorption and optimized process

This paper investigates the efficiency in organic matter and heavy metals removal from a synthetic brassware effluent using a natural adsorbent applied for the first time. raw coal used in continuous adsorption experiments was collected from the Jrada region (Morocco). Several analytical methods were adopted to evaluate material adsorption properties before and after the treatment of the effluent, including Scanning Electron Microscopy, Energy-Dispersive X-ray, X-ray Diffraction and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy. During the experi-mental part of this study, the adsorption kinetics carried to evaluate the performance of the test column has been investigated with optimization of operating parameters namely granular size, flow rate and column height. Finally, the selected parameters were used to evaluate the Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) removal abilities. The results obtained show that the fixed column using a granulometry of 40 mu m, a flow rate of 3 mL/min and a bed height of 18 cm provides a competitive performance, against both, organic matter and heavy metals. And the removal rates reached are 86 % of COD, 69 % of sulfate and 100 % of the most dominant heavy metals in brassware effluent; particularly Nickel, Silver and Copper.

Automated summary

This study investigates the efficiency of using a natural adsorbent for the first time to remove organic matter and heavy metals from a synthetic brassware effluent. The raw coal used in continuous adsorption experiments was collected from the Jrada region in Morocco. Various analytical methods were employed to evaluate the adsorption properties of the material before and after treatment, including SEM, EDX, XRD, and FTIR. The adsorption kinetics were evaluated to optimize the operating parameters, and the selected parameters were used to assess the COD removal abilities. The results showed that the fixed column with a granulometry of 40 μm, a flow rate of 3 mL/min, and a bed height of 18 cm exhibited competitive performance in removing both organic matter and heavy metals.