Watermelon Rind: A Potential Adsorbent for Zinc Removal

Abstract:

The industrial revolution has significantly increase the discharge of wastewater into water bodies with heavy metals. In this study, watermelon rind was used as a biosorbent. Wastewater from mosaic industry was characterized by using flame AAS and zinc was found to have concentration range of 350mg/L to 450mg/L. Watermelon rind was characterized by using XRF and SEM. The results from XRF before biosorption shows the presence of Si to enhance biosorption. Zinc present after biosorption. The optimum pH, biosorbent amount, zinc concentration and contact time were found to be pH8, 1.5g, 400mg/L, and 30minutes respectively. The watermelon rind was proven as an effective biosorbent for zinc removal from aqueous solution

• Periodical: Applied Mechanics and Materials (Volume 680)
• Pages: 146-149
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMM.680.146
• Online since: October 2014
• Authors: Norzila Othman*, Y.S. Kueh, F.H. Azizul-Rahman, R. Hamdan
• Keywords: Biosorbent, Biosorption, Heavy Metal, Zinc

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