Removal of Colour from Textile Wastewater Generated by Local Dyers in Maiduguri using Millet Straw and Rice Husk Adsorbents

Abstract

This study attempts to investigate the suitability of agricultural by-products based activated carbon as adsorbents for the treatment of textile wastewater. The chemical treatment adopted in the study is simple and qualitative. Two low– cost adsorbents namely: Rice husk (RH), and Millet straw (MS) were studied. The initial concentration of Colour in the wastewater was 25570 pt/co. Colour removal with the adsorbents were investigated under two conditions namely: constant adsorption time with varying dosage of adsorbents and constant adsorbent dosage with varying adsorption time. For MS, the optimum removal of colour at constant adsorption time of 2hrs was 95.9% and 94.5% at constant dosage consequently. For RS, the optimum removal of colour at constant adsorption time of 2hrs was 94.5% and 75.8% at constant dosage. Maximum saturation was attained for both adsorbents at 7 hrs contact period. The results of the adsorption study, shows that RH and MS adsorbents can serve as coagulants for removing colour from textile wastewater. The MS powder in particular, was discovered to have a high adorptive capacity.

Keywords:Textile wastewater, colour removal, Rice husk, Millet straw,adsorbents.