Comparitive Study of Lead Removal Using Fish Scales and Activated Carbon - pH and Concentration Effects
Recent literature shows that ground water in many parts of the world are mostly contaminated with lead (Pb). High concentration of lead in drinking water may lead to kidney and brain problems in human. While many methods have been proposed in the past but most of them are not cost-effective and/or not very effective to remove Pb. Fish scales are considered as disposed waste, consequently it can be used as cheaper adsorbent material. In present study, Talapia and Merah fish scales also known as Oreochromos and Lutjanus respectively were used for stastic batch tests with Plumbum Nitrate (Pb(NO3)2) solutions at different pH levels and initial concentrations. It was found that percentage of Pb uptake decreased as initial concentration of adsorbate increased. The optimum initial concentration with more than 90% Pb uptake was at 20 mg/L. Both treated and untreated fish scales performed excellently, with percentage uptake of 99%. The removal of Pb increased until it has reached a maximum at pH 5 . It can be concluded from this study that fish scales-based adsorbents are better compared to the commercialized activated carbon.