As(III) Removal by Chromium-Modified Activated Carbon

Cheah, Han Xian (2024) As(III) Removal by Chromium-Modified Activated Carbon. Final Year Project (Bachelor), Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology.

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Abstract

Arsenic is a toxic pollutant that poses significant health risks. This study investigates the effectiveness of chromium (III) nitrate-modified activated carbon for the removal of inorganic arsenic from water sources. Activated carbon (AC) was modified by saturating it with a Cr(III) salt solution to produce an AC-Cr adsorbent, which was evaluated for its efficacy in removing arsenic [As(III)]. Through batch experiments, the relationship between AC-Cr dosage and percentage removal of As(III) was established, identifying the optimal contact time as 6 hours and the ideal initial pH for adsorption as 3. Kinetic analysis determined the adsorption to follow a PSO model, while the Freundlich isotherm effectively described the adsorption behavior. Furthermore, the efficacy of AC-Cr in removing As(III) from both tap and natural water highlighted the method's repeatability and potential for practical applications. However, further improvements to the adsorbent synthesis are necessary to improve its adsorption capacity before considering chromium modifications as a viable alternative to iron modifications of activated carbon.