Abstract

Because of the continuous production of large amount of waste tires, the disposal of waste tires represents a major environmental issue throughout the world. This paper reports the utilization of waste tires (hard-to-dispose waste) as a precursor in the production of activated carbons (pollution-cleaning adsorbent). In the preparation of activated carbon (AC), waste rubber tire (WRT) was thermally treated and activated. The tire-derived activated carbon was characterized by means of scanning electron microscope, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, FTIR spectrophotometer, and X-ray diffraction. In the IR spectrum, a number of bands centred at about 3409, 2350, 1710, 1650, and 1300-1000 cm(-1) prove the present of hydroxyl and carboxyl groups on the surface of AC in addition to C═C double bonds. The developed AC was tested and evaluated as potential adsorbent removal of chromium (III). Experimental parameters, such as contact time, initial concentration, adsorbent dosage and pH were optimized. A rapid uptake of chromium ions was observed and the equilibrium is achieved in 1 h. It was also found that the adsorption process is pH dependent. This work adds to the global discussion of the cost-effective utilization of waste rubber tires for waste water treatment.

Links

Publisher Full Text

Authors

Gupta VK, Ali I, Saleh TA, Siddiqui MN, Agarwal S

Institution

Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee, 247667, India. vinodfcy@iitr.ernet.in

Source

Environmental science and pollution research international 20:3 2013 Mar pg 1261-8

MeSH

Adsorption
Charcoal
Chromium
Microscopy, Electron, Scanning
Rubber
Spectrometry, X-Ray Emission
Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared
Waste Water
Water Purification
X-Ray Diffraction

Pub Type(s)

Journal Article
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Language

eng

PubMed ID

22573097