Abstract The objective of this study was to investigate the possibility of using maize tassel as an alternative adsorbent for the removal of chromium (VI) and cadmium (II) ions from aqueous solutions. The effect of pH, solution temperature, contact time, initial metal ion concentration and adsorbent dose on the adsorption of chromium (VI) and cadmium (II) by tassel was investigated using batch methods. Adsorption for both chromium (VI) and cadmium (II) was found to be highly pH dependent compared to the other parameters investigated. Obtained results gave an adsorption capacity of 79.1 % for chromium (VI) at pH 2, exposure time of 1h at 25 ºC. Maximum capacity of cadmium of 88 % was obtained in the pH range of 5-6 at 25 ºC after exposure time of 1 h. The adsorption capacities of tassel for both chromium (VI) and cadmium (II) were found to be comparable to those of other commercial adsorbents currently in use for the removal of heavy metals from aqueous wastes. These results have demonstrated the immense potential of maize tassel as an alternative adsorbent for toxic metal ions remediation in polluted water and wastewater.

ABSTRACT: The objective of this study was to investigate the possibility of using maize tassel as an alternative adsorbent for the removal of chromium (VI) and cadmium (II) ions from aqueous solutions. The effect of pH, solution temperature, contact time, initial metal ion concentration and adsorbent dose on the adsorption of chromium (VI) and cadmium (II) by tassel was investigated using batch methods. Adsorption for both chromium (VI) and cadmium (II) was found to be highly pH dependent compared to the other parameters investigated. Obtained results gave an adsorption capacity of 79.1 % for chromium (VI) at pH 2, exposure time of 1h at 25 ºC. Maximum capacity of cadmium of 88 % was obtained in the pH range of 5-6 at 25 ºC after exposure time of 1 h. The adsorption capacities of tassel for both chromium (VI) and cadmium (II) were found to be comparable to those of other commercial adsorbents currently in use for the removal of heavy metals from aqueous wastes. These results have demonstrated the immense potential of maize tassel as an alternative adsorbent for toxic metal ions remediation in polluted water and wastewater.

<p>Dagvatten från vägar innehåller ofta tungmetaller. De vanligaste metallerna i vägdagvatten är bly, koppar, kadmium, nickel och zink. Dessa föroreningar utgör en belastning i recipienter som tar emot dagvattnet. I denna rapport har bly, koppar och zink reducerats från vägdagvatten genom filtrering i kolonner med amorf, granulerad masugnsslagg och sand. Masugnsslagg, som är en biprodukt från framställningen av järn, är en alkalisk produkt med goda sorptionsegenskaper vilket gör den lämplig att använda som filtermaterial för vatten förorenade med metaller. Sanden användes i studien som referensmaterial. Masugnsslaggen som användes i denna studie är hyttsand från Merox, Oxelösund. Reningshalten för hyttsanden i denna studie uppgick till 79 % för bly, 82 % för koppar samt 92 % för zink. Hyttsandens reducerande förmåga har även undersökts i batchförsök.</p> / <p>Stormwater from roads often contain heavy metals. The most common metals in storm water from roads are lead, copper, cadmium, nickel, and zinc. These pollutants constitute a stress for organisms in recipients that receive the stormwater. In this report lead, copper and zinc have been reduced from road storm water through filtration in columns with granulated iron slag and sand. Iron slag is a by-product from the iron making process, with a high sorption capacity, which makes it suitable as a filter material for water polluted with metals. The sand in this study has been used as reference material. The reducing capacity in the stormwater for the iron slag used in this study, “hyttsand”, was 79 % for lead, 82 % for copper and 92 % for zinc. The reducing capacity of the iron slag was also investigated in batch studies.</p>

Dagvatten från vägar innehåller ofta tungmetaller. De vanligaste metallerna i vägdagvatten är bly, koppar, kadmium, nickel och zink. Dessa föroreningar utgör en belastning i recipienter som tar emot dagvattnet. I denna rapport har bly, koppar och zink reducerats från vägdagvatten genom filtrering i kolonner med amorf, granulerad masugnsslagg och sand. Masugnsslagg, som är en biprodukt från framställningen av järn, är en alkalisk produkt med goda sorptionsegenskaper vilket gör den lämplig att använda som filtermaterial för vatten förorenade med metaller. Sanden användes i studien som referensmaterial. Masugnsslaggen som användes i denna studie är hyttsand från Merox, Oxelösund. Reningshalten för hyttsanden i denna studie uppgick till 79 % för bly, 82 % för koppar samt 92 % för zink. Hyttsandens reducerande förmåga har även undersökts i batchförsök. / Stormwater from roads often contain heavy metals. The most common metals in storm water from roads are lead, copper, cadmium, nickel, and zinc. These pollutants constitute a stress for organisms in recipients that receive the stormwater. In this report lead, copper and zinc have been reduced from road storm water through filtration in columns with granulated iron slag and sand. Iron slag is a by-product from the iron making process, with a high sorption capacity, which makes it suitable as a filter material for water polluted with metals. The sand in this study has been used as reference material. The reducing capacity in the stormwater for the iron slag used in this study, “hyttsand”, was 79 % for lead, 82 % for copper and 92 % for zinc. The reducing capacity of the iron slag was also investigated in batch studies.