Title: Adsorption of ammonium using waste activated sludge from palm oil mill effluent treatment plant

Authors: Nor Azyati Abdul Muttalib; Azlina Bt Harun @ Kamaruddin; Vel Murugan Vadivelu

Addresses: School of Chemical Engineering, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Engineering Campus, Seri Ampangan, 14300 Nibong Tebal, Penang, Malaysia. ' School of Chemical Engineering, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Engineering Campus, Seri Ampangan, 14300 Nibong Tebal, Penang, Malaysia. ' School of Chemical Engineering, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Engineering Campus, Seri Ampangan, 14300 Nibong Tebal, Penang, Malaysia

Abstract: Low cost adsorbent was prepared using waste activated sludge (WAS) from a palm oil mill effluent (POME) treatment plant, and used to adsorb ammonium from aqueous solution. The effect of initial concentration, temperature, pH and adsorbent dose was studied in batch test to determine the kinetic and thermodynamic properties. The results showed that the uptake of ammonia increased with an increase in pH, initial concentration of ammonium and adsorbent dose but decrease with temperature. The adsorption of ammonium ion fitted both Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm. The highest monolayer saturation capacity of WAS was 37.07 mg/g at temperature 303oK. The −delta H show the process is exothermic while the amount of free energy (−delta G) indicate the adsorption were spontaneous and thermodynamically favourable. For kinetic model, pseudo second-order more suitable and significant in rate-controlling step in adsorption kinetic.

Keywords: low cost adsorbents; waste activated sludge; palm oil mill effluent; ammonium adsorption; effluent treatment; kinetic modelling; thermodynamics; adsorption kinetics; wastewater treatment; ammonia.

DOI: 10.1504/IJGENVI.2012.049383

International Journal of Global Environmental Issues, 2012 Vol.12 No.2/3/4, pp.256 - 268

Received: 10 Feb 2011
Accepted: 14 Jun 2011
Published online: 28 Aug 2014 *

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