Adsorptive removal of cobalt from aqueous solutions by utilizing industrial waste and its cement fixation

In the present study, the adsorption potential of battery industry waste as adsorbent has been investigated for the removal of cobalt from aqueous solutions. The results have shown that the prepared adsorbent adsorbs cobalt to a sufficient extent (35 mg/g). The adsorption of cobalt has been studied on this battery industry waste as a function of contact time, concentration, and temperature by the batch method. The adsorption has been found to be endothermic and the data conform to the Langmuir equation. The analysis of kinetic data indicates that adsorption is a first order process and pore-diffusion controlled. Further, the metal-laden adsorbent was immobilized into cement for ultimate disposal and no significant leaching was observed from the stabilized products. Thus, the present study clearly reveals that battery industry waste can be fruitfully employed in treating industrial effluents containing toxic metal ions. The proposed technology (utilization of industrial wastes for effluent treatment and then ultimate disposal of adsorbents laden with pollutants in cementitious materials by fixation) provides a twofold aim of wastewater treatment and solid waste management.