MULTI HEAVY METAL ADSORPTION STUDIES ONTO SILICA FUMES FROM REAL-TIME MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE LEACHATE

The discharge of untreated leachate certainly leads to many health hazards. It comprises of more than ten kinds of heavy metal ions. Proper treatment before discharge is essential. The present study was aimed to investigate the concurrent adsorption of multi heavy metal ions present within the real-time municipal solid waste leachate using silica fumes. Materials and Methods: Silica fumes were used to investigate its adsorption potential with heavy metal ions. Also, the properties of silica fumes were analyzed comprehensively using the SEM, FTIR and XRD analysis to assess its suitability for environmental pollution prevention application. Results: The analysis of leachate samples infers the presence of multi heavy metal ions Cu, Zn, Pb, Cr and Ni. Extended Langmuir Isotherm model, Langmuir - Freundlich Isotherm model and Multicomponent Isotherm model are studied to establish the mechanism of adsorption. Silica fumes dosage plays an important role to decide the adsorption effect of synergism or antagonism. Conclusion: Extended Langmuir Isotherm model fits with more accuracy and defines the mechanism of adsorption. Ni shows a strong synergism effect which increases with an increase in silica fumes dosage up to 0.8 g. Cr experiences an increase of qmix/qo up to 0.6 g of silica fumes dosage and transition from synergism to antagonism effect beyond 0.8 g of silica fumes dosage. Pb and Cu metal ions also show the same trend. Zn ion infers the synergism effect for all silica fumes dosage except 0.6 g.