Iqra Jabbar - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Iqra Jabbar

Research paper thumbnail of Evaluating adsorptive potential of low-cost adsorbents and biopolymer composite for heavy metals removal

DESALINATION AND WATER TREATMENT

Removal of heavy metals from water is an essential requirement to avoid environmental impacts of ... more Removal of heavy metals from water is an essential requirement to avoid environmental impacts of these hazardous contaminants. In comparison to other techniques, adsorption is considered relatively low cost, sustainable and environmentally friendly. In this study adsorptive removal of three heavy metals: lead, copper and cadmium was evaluated using bio adsorbents: wheat straw ash (WSA), turf grass ash (TGA) and biopolymer composite (BPC). Minitab software, employing Box-Behnken method, was used for design of experiments and optimization of treatment parameters (pH, contact time, initial concentration, and adsorbent dose). Box-Behnken method gives suitable number of runs for adsorption process. Prepared adsorbents were characterized using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscope (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. FTIR revealed the presence of carbonates and phosphates as major groups in ashes which have high tendency to react with metals. While SEM has shown ashes to be more porous than biopolymer composite. High porous structure enhances the removal efficiency. XRD analysis of ashes have shown silica presence while biopolymer composite has semi crystalline fiber and rhombohedral structure in it. Silica reacts with metals and help in removal. Ashes characterization reveals their high removal potential. Batch adsorption was carried out for the removal of three heavy metals. For lead, the removal efficiency was highest for WSA (93%) followed by BPC (91%) and TGA (87%). For copper the highest removal was obtained by TGA (i.e., 93%) followed by BPC (92%) and WSA (89%). Similarly, for cadmium highest removal of 90% was attained by TGA, while 90% and 84% by WSA and BPC respectively. Significant parameters for lead and cadmium removal were initial concentration and pH according to Pareto chart of standardize effects. For copper it was contact time and interaction of pH with adsorbent dose.

Research paper thumbnail of Evaluating adsorptive potential of low-cost adsorbents and biopolymer composite for heavy metals removal

DESALINATION AND WATER TREATMENT

Removal of heavy metals from water is an essential requirement to avoid environmental impacts of ... more Removal of heavy metals from water is an essential requirement to avoid environmental impacts of these hazardous contaminants. In comparison to other techniques, adsorption is considered relatively low cost, sustainable and environmentally friendly. In this study adsorptive removal of three heavy metals: lead, copper and cadmium was evaluated using bio adsorbents: wheat straw ash (WSA), turf grass ash (TGA) and biopolymer composite (BPC). Minitab software, employing Box-Behnken method, was used for design of experiments and optimization of treatment parameters (pH, contact time, initial concentration, and adsorbent dose). Box-Behnken method gives suitable number of runs for adsorption process. Prepared adsorbents were characterized using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscope (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. FTIR revealed the presence of carbonates and phosphates as major groups in ashes which have high tendency to react with metals. While SEM has shown ashes to be more porous than biopolymer composite. High porous structure enhances the removal efficiency. XRD analysis of ashes have shown silica presence while biopolymer composite has semi crystalline fiber and rhombohedral structure in it. Silica reacts with metals and help in removal. Ashes characterization reveals their high removal potential. Batch adsorption was carried out for the removal of three heavy metals. For lead, the removal efficiency was highest for WSA (93%) followed by BPC (91%) and TGA (87%). For copper the highest removal was obtained by TGA (i.e., 93%) followed by BPC (92%) and WSA (89%). Similarly, for cadmium highest removal of 90% was attained by TGA, while 90% and 84% by WSA and BPC respectively. Significant parameters for lead and cadmium removal were initial concentration and pH according to Pareto chart of standardize effects. For copper it was contact time and interaction of pH with adsorbent dose.