Title: Removal of heavy metals from mixed domestic and industrial wastewater by activated sludge process using MWCNT

Authors: Ümmükülsüm Özel Akdemir

Addresses: Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Giresun University, 28200, Giresun, Turkey

Abstract: In this study, the effect of multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) on heavy metal and chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal in the continuous flow activated sludge process was investigated. In order to treat domestic and industrial wastewater together in the biological treatment unit, 50 and 100 mg.L⁻¹ MWCNT were added to laboratory scale reactors, one of which was a control reactor (CR). It was determined that the increase of the MWCNT concentration leads to increase in the rate of removal of COD. COD removal for CR, 50 and 100 mg.L⁻¹ MWCNT was 49.24, 64.95 and 76.46%, respectively. In the first hour Ni (II) removal was achieved in the control reactor (CR) at 65.33%. When 50 and 100 mg.L⁻¹ MWCNT was added to reactors, Ni (II) removal was 71.14% and 79.99%, respectively. Cu (II) and Cr (VI) removal efficiencies were achieved about 99%, during the treatment. It was determined that MWCNT has a positive effect on activated sludge treatment efficiency. As a result, biokinetic coefficients show that reactor volume the size will be smaller and size of sludge handling facility will be the greater with increases in the amount of MWCNT.

Keywords: multi-walled carbon nanotubes; MWCNT; activated sludge; heavy metals; chemical oxygen demand; COD; biokinetic coefficients.

DOI: 10.1504/IJGW.2020.110869

International Journal of Global Warming, 2020 Vol.22 No.3, pp.315 - 329

Received: 16 Mar 2020
Accepted: 26 Apr 2020
Published online: 30 Oct 2020 *

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