Sorption comparison of trivalent chromium on various Ficus carica charcoal from tannery wastewater

In this study, equipped charcoal of Ficus carica without being impregnated impregnated with potassium hydroxide (KOH), zinc chloride (ZnCl2) and phosphoric acid (H3PO4) was used for sorption comparison of trivalent chromium, Cr (III) from tannery wastewater. The equipped charcoals are characterized by Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) before and after sorption of Cr(III). The quantitative elemental analysis of the charcoal is performed using PGT Energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDX). The Cr(III) sorption efficacy of charcoal was examined investigating charcoal dose, contact time, and relative pH. Batch sorption test revealed that Ficus carica charcoal without impregnation had the maximum sorption capacity of Cr(III). At the same conditions, Cr(III) sorption efficiency on the Ficus carica charcoal without impregnation, impregnated with potassium hydroxide, zinc chloride, and phosphoric acid was 98.9%, 98.8%, 8.9% and 2.5%, respectively. The study could be helpful to design the sorption of trivalent chromium from the tannery wastewater in-house prior to discharge.