Removal of Cu (II) from acidic waters using biomass from coconut shells

Abstract

Water pollution by heavy metals generated by the mining industry is an environmental problem. The use of organic waste materials to treat these waters offers an alternative to existing treatment technologies. The present research work reports the removal of copper from acid waters using biomass from coconut shell (BCS). The water samples to be treated were collected from the drainage networks of the Huascacocha lagoon, the concentration of Cu detected was 3.26 mg / L, a value that exceeds the Environmental Quality Standards established by Peruvian legislation. In a batch system, the influence of the contact time and particle size of the BCS on the percentage of removal of Cu (% R) was evaluated. A higher% R of 92.67 was achieved with a particle size of 0.21 mm and a contact time of 60 min. From the statistica l analysis it is concluded that the two variables under study, as well as their interaction, significantly influence the% R. From the results presented, it can be said that BCS is an ecological and feasible alternative for the removal of Cu (II) from acid waters.