Removal of lead using anaerobic biomass

Date

2003

Author

Tokcaer, Emre

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Use of anaerobically digested sludge (ADS) in heavy metal removal, was researched. The raw and dewatered ADS samples collected from the effluent of anaerobic digesters and mechanical dewatering units of Ankara City Wastewater Treatment Plant were used. Sorption kinetic and equilibrium tests were conducted using raw ADS at initial pH of 2.0, 4.0 and without adjusting the initial pH. The highest Pb(II) removal capacity was observed as, 8.5 mmol (or 1760 mg) Pb(II) per g of biomass, when the initial pH was not controlled. When dewatered ADS was used Pb(II) removal capacity of ADS was found to drastically decrease to 2.5 mmol (or 518 mg) Pb(II) per g of biomass. Both biomass samples resulted in an increase in the solution pH from an initial value of 4 ا 5 to an equilibrium value of 7 ا 8. Large floc particles settling rapidly were formed after the ADS samples contacted with Pb(II) solution. The high Pb(II) removal capacities, and visual observations during the experiments indicated that precipitation is a dominant mechanism especially at low initial Pb(II) concentrations. FTIR studies showed that carboxyl groups present in the biomass surface of raw ADS were major functional groups in biosorption of Pb(II). The low capacity values attained at initial pH 2.0 indicated that there was a competition between Pb(II) species and hydrogen ions for carboxyl groups. Single and 3-stage fed-batch reactor systems were operated using raw ADS at different initial Pb(II) concentrations. The efficiency of reactor systems increased when 3-stage fed-batch configuration was used and an effluent Pb(II) concentration below 2 mg/L was reached from an initial value of about 200 mg/L.

Subject Keywords

Sewage sludge, Heavy metals

URI

http://etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/1087600/index.pdf
https://hdl.handle.net/11511/13444

Collections

Graduate School of Natural and Applied Sciences, Thesis