REMOVAL of TURBIDITY, LEAD and CADMIUM IONS from WASTEWATERS USING PRODUCTS DERIVED from Mangifera Indica KERNEL
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REMOVAL OF TURBIDITY, LEAD AND CADMIUM IONS FROM WASTEWATERS USING PRODUCTS DERIVED FROM mangifera indica KERNEL KARIUKI JOHN NJUGUNA I56/CE/22622/2011 A Thesis Submitted in Partial fulfillment of the Requirement for the Award of the Degree of Master of Science in Chemistry in the School of Pure and Applied Sciences of Kenyatta University JUNE 2016 ii DECLARATION This thesis is my original work and that it has not been presented for a degree in any university, or any other award. Sign ……………………………….. Date ………………………………… Kariuki, John Njuguna I56/CE/22622/2011 Department of chemistry Supervisors We confirm that the work reported in this thesis was carried out by the candidate under our supervision Sign ……………………………….. Date ………………………………. Dr. Harun M. Mbuvi Department of Chemistry Kenyatta University Sign ……………………………… Date ………………………………….. Dr. Margaret M. Nganga Department of Chemistry Kenyatta University iii Dedication I dedicate this work to my beloved wife Jane Njuguna and my children Joseph Kariuki, Naomi Njeri and Isaac Waweru. iv Acknowledgement First and foremost am grateful to Almighty God for enabling me to see the completion of this research work. My gratitude goes to my supervisors Dr. Harun Mbuvi and Dr. Margaret Nganga for their unwavering input, encouragement, support, advice and guidance throughout the research period. May the Almighty God bless both of you abundantly in all aspects of your life. I would also like to register my acknowledgement to lecturers and technical staff of department of chemistry, Kenyatta University. Am also indebted to my coursemates for your advice and encouragement throughout the course. My gratitude also goes to my colleagues at work and much more the principal, Mr. Zachary Njenga for the warm and conducive atmosphere during the course. Finally am sincerely grateful to my beloved wife Jane Njuguna for prayers, support, encouragement, patience and understanding during the whole period of study. v TABLE OF CONTENTS DECLARATION ....................................................................................................................... ii Dedication ................................................................................................................................ iii Acknowledgement .................................................................................................................... iv TABLE OF CONTENTS ........................................................................................................... v List of tables ........................................................................................................................... viii List of Figures ........................................................................................................................... ix ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS .................................................................................. x ABSTRACT .............................................................................................................................. xi CHAPTER ONE ........................................................................................................................ 1 INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Background Information ...................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Statement of the problem ..................................................................................................... 3 1.3 Justification of the Study ..................................................................................................... 3 1.4 Hypothesis............................................................................................................................ 4 1.5 General objective ................................................................................................................. 4 1.6 Specific objectives ............................................................................................................... 4 1.7 Significance of the Study ..................................................................................................... 5 CHAPTER TWO ....................................................................................................................... 6 LITERATURE REVIEW .......................................................................................................... 6 2.1 Utilization of agricultural waste ........................................................................................... 6 2.2 Water scarcity ...................................................................................................................... 8 2.3 Water pollution .................................................................................................................... 8 2.5 Heavy metal toxicity ............................................................................................................ 9 2.6 Water treatment .................................................................................................................. 11 2.7 Methods used to remove water contaminants .................................................................... 12 2.7.1 Ion exchange ................................................................................................................... 12 2.7.2 Microbial degradation ..................................................................................................... 13 2.7.3 Biosorption ...................................................................................................................... 14 2.8 Mango tree ......................................................................................................................... 15 2.9 Synthesis of activated carbon............................................................................................. 17 2.10 Activation mechanism ..................................................................................................... 18 2.11 Adsorption equilibrium .................................................................................................... 20 2.12 Langmuir adsorption isotherm ......................................................................................... 22 vi 2.13 Freundlich adsorption isotherm ....................................................................................... 23 2.14 Mechanism of adsorption ................................................................................................. 24 2.15 Turbidity .......................................................................................................................... 25 CHAPTER THREE ................................................................................................................. 27 MATERIALS AND METHODS ............................................................................................. 27 3.1 Collection of materials ....................................................................................................... 27 3.2 Preparation of carbon adsorbent ........................................................................................ 28 3.3 Preparation of activated carbon ......................................................................................... 29 3.4 Preparation of Mangifera indica kernel ash ....................................................................... 29 3.5 pH variation ....................................................................................................................... 29 3.6 Contact time ....................................................................................................................... 30 3.7 Dosage................................................................................................................................ 30 3.8 Concentration of metal ions ............................................................................................... 30 3.9 Temperature ....................................................................................................................... 31 3.10 Equilibrium adsorption isotherms .................................................................................... 31 3.11 Turbidity removal ............................................................................................................ 32 3.12 Instrumentation ................................................................................................................ 33 3.13 Data presentation and analysis ......................................................................................... 33 CHAPTER FOUR .................................................................................................................... 34 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION .............................................................................................. 34 4.1 Sorption experiments ......................................................................................................... 34 4.1.1 Effects of contact time .................................................................................................... 34 4.1.2 Effects of initial concentration on metal ions ................................................................. 37 4.1.3 Effects of dosage ............................................................................................................. 40 4.1.4 Effects of