Removal of Heavy Metals from Sewage Sludge by Using Zeolite Socony Mobil-5
摘要
Sewage sludge contains a sizable amount of organic matter and nutrients that can be beneficially used for crop growth, but the primary technical challenge associated with land application of sludge pertains to the elevated levels of heavy metal (HM) concentrations. This research paper underlines the importance of resolving this significant environmental and health threat by investigating the potential of synthetic zeolites as a sorbent for their removal or immobilization. Adsorption, specifically with the use of a synthetic Zeolite Socony Mobil-5 (ZSM-5) was identified as cost-effective and environmentally friendly. The study focuses on the removal of Cu, Cr, and Mn, which showed maximum removal efficiencies of 21.1%, 30.8%, and 54.4% respectively. The findings suggest that kinetic adsorption occurs in two stages—rapid sorption at the early stages and slower sorption thereafter, best described by the pseudo-second-order kinetic model. For any given ratio of amendment of sewage sludge with ZSM-5, the adsorption amenability in terms of percentage reduction for different HMs was found to follow the order: Mn > Cr > Cu. This study is a step towards developing an effective solution for mitigating hazardous impact of sewage sludge disposal from wastewater treatment plants and utilization for agricultural purposes.