Abstract
ABSTRACT
Pentachlorophenol (PCP), a versatile biocide has been extensively used in industry and agriculture. PCP has been designated as a priority organic pollutant by USEPA and its use in consumer products has been banned since 1984. Extensive use of PCP as a wood preservative has led to soil, surface water and groundwater pollution. Batch kinetic and isotherm studies were carried out at the Water Research Laboratory of the University of Regina, to determine the effectiveness of locally available horticultural peat in the adsorption of PCP from wastewater. Batch kinetic studies showed that 91% of PCP was removed from municipal wastewater spiked with approximately 1 mg/L of PCP, with an equilibrium time of five hours. An optimum pH range of 3.0 - 3.5 was found to give maximum PCP removals. Adsorption of PCP by peat in this acidic pH range suggested that PCP in its molecular form was readily adsorbed. Batch adsorption studies indicated increase in PCP removals with decreasing initial PCP concentration. The adsorption of PCP by peat from wastewater was best defined by the Freundlich isotherm. Desorption of PCP from peat was minimal, suggesting strong irreversible adsorption of PCP by peat. Peat, an inexpensive adsorbent, can be used successfully to remove PCP from wastewater.
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