CE 190 – Seminar and Research Methods in Civil Engineering (Proposal) 22 October 2010

Final Presentation of Research Proposal Environmental and Energy Engineering Group

Competitive Sorption of Copper and Zinc in Aqueous Solution on

Coco peat Using Batch Experiment
SHIELA I. EREJER
Undergraduate Student, B.S. Civil Engineering Program
Institute of Civil Engineering, University of the Philippines Diliman
E-mail: shiela_kaela11@yahoo.com

JOMAR PAUL B. ROMERO

Undergraduate Student, B.S. Civil Engineering Program
Institute of Civil Engineering, University of the Philippines Diliman
E-mail: shinta_ittogawa@yahoo.com

Advisers:
Dr. Augustus C. Resurreccion
Associate Professor, Institute of Civil Engineering, University of the Philippines Diliman
Dr. Maria Antonia N. Tanchuling
Associate Professor, Institute of Civil Engineering, University of the Philippines, Diliman
Engr. Diocel Harold Aquino
Instructor, Institute of Civil Engineering, University of the Philippines, Diliman

Abstract: Due to its low price, abundance and adsorptive properties, coco peat is one of the ideal sorbent when it comes to
filtration of heavy metal contaminated wastewater. This study provides an in-depth analysis of how adsorptive coco peat
is, given different concentrations of Cu and Zn. It also includes the competitive sorption of the two elements when
combined in a solution and mixed together with coco peat. Other related studies were given importance through
considering the results that they produced in their research. This study aims to provide new information about the
adsorption capacity of coco peat and how can it be utilized as an effective sorbent for wastewater treatment.

1. INTRODUCTION chemicals in a medium, say for example, the transport

The Philippines is undoubtedly rich in mineral
resources, such as Copper and Zinc. As of 2009, the
country produced 21,235 metric tons of Copper and
1,619 metric tons of Zinc, according to the USGS
Survey. The booming mining industry now is
expected to, according to the Mines and Geosciences
Bureau of DENR; generate investments worth 1.42
billion US Dollars in 2010.
As the mining industry starts to flourish once again, it
imposes a major threat in the country’s environmental
health. The infamous Marcopper Mining Accident of
March 1996 proved how this industry could damage
the environment, if sustainable mining is not
practiced. The ill effects of the tragedy are still being
experienced by the people near the old mine. There
are reports of diabetes, goiter, renal diseases,
spontaneous miscarriage, and cancer. (Manalac,
2009)
Methods regarding heavy metal removal in effluent
are applied to lessen the concentration of harmful
chemicals when discharged into bodies of water.
These are: Redox Reactions, Ion Exchange, Chemical
Precipitation, Electrodialysis, Lime Coagulation,
Membrane Separation, Adsorption, and Phyto or Bio
Remediation.
The techniques stated follow the principle of sorption.
Sorption is a process that influences the transport of
of heavy metals in an effluent. Sorption has two
types – adsorption and absorption. Absorption
involves the chemical attachment of the sorbate to the
sorbent. Adsorption also involves the adherence of
the sorbate to the sorbent, but without any chemical
processes involved.
Aside from the traditional means of heavy metal
removal, there is another method that is still under
development, i.e. Biosorption. Biosorption is the
method of using any biological material as a sorbent.
It is based on the metal binding capacity of these
materials. It is considered cheap yet effective in
heavy metal adsorption. Examples of which are
wheat straw, coconut tree sawdust, sugar pulp,
banana peel, mango biomass, seaweeds, and cocopeat.
Coco peat or coconut coir pith is a residue found
from extracting coir fiber from coconut husk. Coco
peat comprises 70% of the coconut husk, and its
abundance will never be a problem, since the
Philippines produces 26% of the world’s total
production of copra, second to Indonesia with 28.1%
in 2001.
The tables below show some of the properties of
cocopeat compared to traditional peat, as studied by
Dr. Geoff Cresswell of the Cresswell Horticultural
Services in New South Wales, Australia.

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Physical Properties 2. MATERIALS AND METHODS

2.1 Single Species

Samples of coco peat were provided for us. The

overall conditions of the samples were satisfactory.
Preparation of 5, 10, 20, 50, and 100 ppm (parts per
million) of Cu or Zn solution coming from their
compounds are available in the laboratory. After
preparations, measure the pH and put 0.500g of coco
peat to 3 erlenmeyer flasks that contain the
concentration to be studied. The volume of the
solution inside each flask is about 100mL. The flasks
will be shaken in a shaking table for 10 minutes, 30
minutes, 1 hour, 6 hours, 12 hours, 24 hours, and 48
hours. It will be done in three trials in each of the
time requirements. Filter the solution, measure the
concentration remained in the liquid, measure again
the pH, and test for correction of concentration in the
AAS (Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry).
Measure the concentration remained in the liquid and
the concentration sorbed by the coco peat.

The ability of cocopeat as a sorbent has been the topic

of numerous studies, and the results were satisfactory.
Suksabye et. al in 2006 conducted a study of sorption
of Chromium contaminated wastewater with the use
of cocopeat yielded a removal rate of 99.9% at pH 2.
This testifies to the remarkable potential of cocopeat
as a sustainable medium in removing heavy metals
from effluent. Shown above is the set of the flasks at the top of the
shaking table. The set rate of rotation for the shaking
For this study, coco peat shall be used as the sorbent table is 150 rpm.
and Copper and Zinc shall be used as sorbate. The
study will conduct a series of batch experiments to: 2.2 Multiple Species
 To examine the competitive sorption of Cu
and Zn on coco peat using batch As for Multiple Species (Cu and Zn combined in the
experiments. solution), the same procedures shall be followed.
 To compare the sorption capacity of coco
peat for single and multiple species. 2.3 Kinetic Isotherms and pH
 To determine the partitioning
coefficient/sorption coefficient by describing An isotherm is the relation between the sorbed
adsorption isotherm. concentration and the concentration remained in the
 To examine the quantity of sorbed pollutant liquid. Isotherms are classified into:
concentration at equilibrium.
 To collaborate with the group that will Linear Sorption Isotherm - the simplest of the
perform the column experiment for isotherm models. It is also a one-model parameter
designing an ideal filtering system with coco given in the following equation
peat as one of the main sorbent.

Cs and Cl are the concentrations at the coco peat and

liquid, respectively, and Kd is the distribution
coefficient, or the linear sorption coefficient.

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Langmuir Sorption Isotherm – It is based on the Freundlich Adsorption Isotherm
principle that there are only certain numbers of
sorption sites available, and is a 2 model parameters.
The equation for the Langmuir isotherm is:

Freundlich Sorption Isotherm - it is the most often

used non-linear isotherm with a given equation

The graphs of the isotherms are shown below. Note

that when plotting the values gathered from the
experiment, their graph must look like so.

pH level must also be considered since pH affects the

sorption of the coco peat. It is also recommended
Linear Adsorption Isotherm that to set the pH to a constant value before shaking
the mixture.

3. SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES

This is the schedule of activities to be done in the

course of doing the study. Note that the dates here
are temporary and may need adjustment during the
Langmuir Adsorption whole period of the study.

Oct. 22, 2010: Submission of Proposal

Oct. 21 – Oct. 29: Experiment Proper
Nov.15 – Dec. 16: Experiment Proper/Writing for the
draft of the thesis
Jan.3, 2011 – Feb.28, 2011:
Experiment Proper/Polishing of the
Langmuir Adsorption Isotherm thesis paper
Mar.1 – 11: Experiment Paper/Finalization of the
Thesis Paper
Mar.12 – 31: Finalization/Preparation for the
presentation

3. CONCLUSION

Coco peat is a very effective sorbent of heavy metals

in contaminated water. Its price, availability and high
adsorption of heavy metals makes it an ideal and
sustainable filter medium to be used for mining.
However, further study must be made to design the
adequate filter system for heavy metal contaminated
water.

REFERENCES
1. USGS 2009 Survey: Philippines
http://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/country/2008/m
yb3- 2008-rp.pdf

2. EconomyWatch.com
http://www.economywatch.com/world_economy/philip
pines/industry-sector-industries.html

3. 11 years after the Marcopper Mining Accident

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 http://www.pacificbasin.org/PBC_2009_Conference/fol
lowup/presentations/Saturday/Manalac.pdf

4. Ecoport.org
http://ecoport.org/ep?SearchType=interactiveTableVie
w&itableId=668

5. Coir dust a proven alternative to peat by Dr. Geoff

Cresswell
http://www.cocopeat.com.au/technical/productAnalysis/
pdf/Cresswelldoc.pdf

6. Treatment of Chromium Contaminated Wastewater by

Coconut Coir Pith by Parinda Suksabye, Paitip
Thiravetyan and Woranan Nakbanpote

7. Competitive Sorption of Lead and Copper in Aqueous

Solution on Coco Peat by Michelle Rose Parcon

8. Study of Mango Biomass (Mangifera indica L) as a

Cationic Biosorbent. Ashraf, M. A.; Maah, M. J.;
Yusoff, I., (2010). Int. J. Environ. Sci. Tech.

9. Loll and Moldrup. Soil characterization and Polluted

Soil Assessment. (Chapter5)

10. http://www.emb.gov.ph (DAO on the revised WQG)

11. http://www.maine.gov/dhhs/etl/wtrfc2.htm

12. http://www.lenntech.com/periodic/elements/zn.htm

13. http://www.lenntech.com/periodic/elements/cu.htm

14. http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxprofiles/tp60-c3.pdf

15. http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxprofiles/tp132-c1-b.pdf