Equilibrium Study on Electroplating
Industry Effluent using Albizialebbeck
D. Sivakumar1, T.Siddharth2, V.Dhananjeyan3, S.Sathish Kumar4
1,2,3,4
Department of Civil Engineering,
Vel Tech High Tech Dr.RangarajanDr.Sakunthala Engineering College, Avadi, Chennai.
1
shri.sivakumar1974@gmail.com
Abstract – The total dissolved solids and sulphate in
an electroplating industry effluent was removed using
Albizialebbeck pod powder, which was studied by
batch method. The effect of rapid mixing contact
time, slow mixing contact time and adsorbent dosage
for removing total dissolved solids and sulphate in an
electroplating industry effluent have been evaluated.
The results of the present study indicated that the
maximum adsorption capacity of Albizialebbeckpod
powder for removing total dissolved solids and
sulphate in an electroplating industry effluent was
86.4 and 88.8 %. The Freundlich isotherm modelwas
fitted to the experimental data of electroplating
industry effluent. Based on experimental and model
studies, Albizialebbeckpod powder is effectively used
as adsorbent for removing TDS and sulphate in an
electroplating industry effluent.
Keywords –Electroplating Industry Effluent,
AlbiziaLebbeckPod Powder, Process Parameters,
Isotherm Model
I.INTRODUCTION
Electroplating units have potential to generate the
effluent consisting of heavy metals like chromium,
copper, zinc, cadmium etc. and various organic
compounds such as phenols, formaldehyde etc. The
toxicity of the effluent obviously depends on the
concentration of the respective metals as well as
duration and type of discharge. With the increasing
use of variety of heavy metals in electroplating
industry problem may arise from potential toxicity in
the environment to a great extent.
With a view to recycle and reuse the wastewater,
adsorption process was adopted as single stage
treatment instead of the existing physical, chemical
and biological methods. The greatest advantage of
this method is that desired materials are separated
from a solution by a simple and compact process,
producing less secondary waste. Other advantages are
large active surface area for a given mass of particles,
and the ability to process a solution that contains
suspended solids.
Exploration of good low cost and non-conventional
adsorbent may contribute to the sustainability of the
environment and offer promising benefits for the
commercial purpose in future. The costs of the
activated carbon prepared from biomaterials are
negligible when compared to the cost of commercial
activated carbon. Some of the activated carbons used
to treat the industrial wastewater in the recent past
are, corncob, groundnut husk, rice husk, tea leaves
carbon, saw dust, eucalyptus bark, and agricultural
wastes. Further, in the laboratory and field studies,
seed of moriga oleifera (as a coagulant) was used for
treating water.
This paper dealt with effect of initial concentration of
Albizialebbeckpod powder for removing total
dissolved solids (TDS) and sulphate in the
electroplating industry effluent at different dosages,
different rapid mixing contact time and different slow
mixing contact time. The adsorption study is also
extended to isotherm points of view.
II.MATERIALS AND METHODS
The entire experimental work was planned in three
distinct phases which include preparation of
coagulant using Albizialebbeckpod powder (Phase I),
collection of electroplating industry effluent (Phase
II) and experiments for determining the suitability of
Albizialebbeckpod powder in removing TDS and
sulphate present in the electroplating industry effluent
(Phase III).
Phase I
Albizialebbeckpod in dried form was collected from
the Vel Tech High Tech Dr. Rangarajan
Dr.Sakunthala Engineering College Campus. The pod
was pulverized and sieved through
0.60 µm sieve (Photo 1). 1000 mg of powdered form
of Albizialebbeckpod was taken for conducting the
experiments and the remaining quantity was kept in
the refrigerator at a temperature of 5 C. This method
is used to avoid the decomposition of powder,
because the Albizialebbeckpod powder is an agro-
based product.

Photo 1 Pulverized form ofAlbiziaLebbeckPod
Albizialebbeckis native to deciduous and
semideciduous forests in Asia from eastern Pakistan
through India and Sri Lanka to Burma. The tree has
been introduced as an ornamental and plantation tree
throughout the tropics and northern subtropics,
including the Greater and Lesser Antilles, Central
America, Colombia, Venezuela, and Brazil.
Albizialebbeckis a fast-growing, medium-sized
deciduous tree with a spreading umbrella-shaped
crown of thin foliage and smoothish, finely fissured,
grayish-brown bark. Depending on site conditions,
annual height growth ranges from 0.5 to 2.0 m. The
species grows well from sea level to 1500 m on sites
receiving between 500 and 2500 mm annual rainfall
and tolerates both light frosts and drought. While it
grows poorly on heavy clay soils, ittolerates saline,
sodic, and lateritic sites.
Phase II
Electroplating industry effluent from the Ambatur
Industrial Estate was collected with the help of air
tight bottles. The quality was analyzed using
standard procedure (APHA, 2005). The primary
focus of the present study is to reduce the TDS and
sulphate concentrations in the electroplating industry
effluent using Albizialebbeckpod powder at various
initial concentrations. The initial TDS and sulphate
values in the electroplating industry effluent are given
in Table 1.
Table 1 Properties of Electroplating Industry
Effluent
Electroplating
Properties
Industry Effluent
TDS, mg/l 2758.0
Sulphate, mg/l 1435.0
Phase III
In the present study, the Phipps and Bird jar test
apparatus was used for evaluating and optimizing the
adsorption process. This method consists of batch
experiments involving rapid mixing at the rotational
speed of 100 rpm, slow mixing at the rotational speed
of 20 rpm and sedimentation for a period of 60 min.
Electroplating industry effluent was filled in four
glass beakers of 1 litre capacity and was kept in the
Phipps and Bird jar test apparatus for agitation. In the
apparatus, rotational speeds could be varied between
0 to 100 rpm for enhancing flocculation process. In
the present investigation, the experiments were
performed at different adsorbent dosage of 20 g/l to
140 g/l with an increment of 20 g/l, different rapid
mixing contact time of 3 min. to 21 min. with an
increment of 3 min. and different slow mixing contact
time of 5 min. to 30 min. with an interval of 5 min.).
Clear wastewater from each beaker after settlement
was collected for analyzing TDS and sulphate.
The concentrations of TDS and sulphate in the
electroplating industry effluent before and after
equilibrium were determined as per standard
procedure given by APHA (2005). The equilibrium
experimental data for TDS and sulphate is used to fit
Fruendlich isotherm model. Using a mass balance,
the concentrations of TDS and sulphate at different
time adsorbed by Albizialebbeckpod powder was
calculated as
(C0 C t )V
qt
M
whereqt is the amount of TDS and sulphate adsorbed
by Albizialebbeckpod powder at time t, C0 is the
initial concentration of TDS and sulphate, Ct is
aqueous phase concentration of TDS and sulphate at
time t, V is the volume of the aqueous phase, Mis the
weight of Albizialebbeckpod powder.
III.RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
3.1 Effect of Albizialebbeckpod powder Dosage
Fig.1 shows the effect of Albizialebbeckpod powder
as adsorbent dose on TDS and sulphate reduction in
an electroplating industry effluent with a rapid
mixing contact time of 10 min. and 0 dilution ratios
(using initial concentration). From Fig.1, it may be
observed that up to 100 g/l of Albizialebbeckpod
powder dosage, concentration of TDS and sulphate in
an electroplating industry effluent decrease, beyond
which they increase. In otherwords, the reduction of
TDS and sulphate in an electroplating industry
effluent increase, beyond which they decrease.
 optimum rapid mixing contact time (50 min.), which
100.0 TDS Sulphate is corresponding to the lowest residual TDS and
90.0 sulphate obtained for an electroplating industry
80.0 effluent were 488.16 mg/l and 220.99 mg/l
Percentage Removal

respectively.
70.0
60.0
50.0 100.0 TDS Sulphate
40.0

Percentage Removal
80.0
30.0
20.0
60.0
10.0
0.0 40.0
50 0 100 150
Adsorbent Dosage, g/l 20.0
Fig.1 The effect of Albizialebbeckpod powder as
adsorbent dose on TDS and sulphate reduction in 0.0
an electroplating industry effluent
20 40 60 0 80
Rapid Mixing Contact Time, min.
The percentage reduction in concentration of TDS for
aAlbizialebbeck pod powder dosage of 20, 40, 60, 80, Fig.2 The effect of rapid mixing contact time on
100 and 120 g/l respectively were found to be 36.8 %, TDS and sulphate reduction in an electroplating
52.3 %, 65.3 %, 72.2 %, 78.5 % and 70.2 %. industry effluent
Similarly, the percentage reduction in concentration
of sulphate for the dose of 20, 40, 60, 80, 100 and 120 3.3 Effect of Dilution Ratio
g/l respectively were found to be 42.5 %, 55.3 %,
Fig.3 shows the effect of dilution ratio on removal of
68.3 %, 74.6 %, 81.6 % and 72.8 %. Thus, an
TDS and sulphate in an electroplating industry
optimum dosage for which the maximum removal of
TDS and sulphate occurs is 100 g/l (Fig.1). Further, effluent with an optimum adsorbent dose of 100 g/l
and optimum rapid mixing contact time of 50 min.
an optimum dosage (100 g/l), which is corresponding
to the lowest residual TDS and sulphate obtained for From Fig.3, it may be observed that upto 5 dilution
ratio, concentration of TDS and sulphate in an
an electroplating industry effluent were 592.97 mg/l
electroplating industry effluent decrease, beyond
and 264.04 mg/l respectively.
which they increase. In otherwords, the reduction of
TDS and sulphate in an electroplating industry
3.2 Effect of Rapid Mixing Contact Time
effluent increase, beyond which they decrease.
Fig.2 shows the effect of rapid mixing contact time 100.0 TDS Sulphate
on removal of TDS and sulphate in an electroplating
industry effluent with an optimum adsorbent dose of
Percentage Removal

80.0
100 g/l and 0 dilution ratios (using initial
concentration). From Fig.3, it may be observed that
upto 50 min., concentration of TDS and sulphate in 60.0
an electroplating industry effluent decrease, beyond
which they increase. In otherwords, the reduction of 40.0
TDS and sulphate in an electroplating industry
effluent increase, beyond which they decrease. 20.0

The percentage reduction in concentration of TDS for 0.0

a rapid mixing contact time of 0, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50,
and 60 min. respectively were found to be 0.0 % 20.5
%, 42.2 %, 64.8 %, 76.5 %, 82.3 % and 75.6 %.
Similarly, the percentage reduction in concentration
of sulphate for a rapid mixing contact time of 0, 10,
20, 30, 40, 50, and 60 min. respectively were found to
be 0.0 %, 23.9 %, 45.2 %, 69.3 %, 78.2 %, 84.6 %
and 77.4 %. Thus, an optimum rapid mixing contact
time for which the maximum removal of TDS and
sulphate occurs is 50 min. (Fig.1). Further, an
2 0 4 6
Dilution Ratio
Fig.3 The effect of dilution ratio on TDS and
sulphate reduction in an electroplating
industry effluent
The percentage reduction in concentration of TDS for
a dilution ratio of 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 respectively were
found to be 38.8 %, 54.7 %, 67.8 %, 74.1 %, 79.6 %
and 86.2 %. Similarly, the percentage reduction in
concentration of sulphate a dilution ratio of 0, 1, 2, 3,
4 and 5 respectively were found to be 44.2 %, 56.3
%, 69.8 %, 76.2 %, 83.1 % and 88.8 %. Thus, an
optimum dilution ratio for which the maximum
removal of TDS and sulphate occurs is 5. (Fig.2).
Further, an optimum dilution ratio (5), which is
corresponding to the lowest residual TDS and
sulphate obtained for an electroplating industry
effluent were 380.60 mg/l and 160.72 mg/l
respectively.
The photographic view of before and after treatment
of electroplating industry effluent for the parameters
TDS and sulphate by Albizialebbeckpod powder in
Phipps and Bird jar test apparatus is shown in Photo 2
and Photo 3 respectively.
Photo 2 Photographic View of Electroplating
Industry Effluent before Treatment by
AlbiziaLebbeckPod Powder
Photo 3 Photographic View of Electroplating
Industry Effluent after Treatment by
AlbiziaLebbeckPod Powder
3.4 Isotherm Study
Adsorption isotherms are mathematical models that
describe the distribution of the adsorbate species
among liquid and adsorbent, based on a set of
assumptions that are mainly related to the
heterogeneity/homogeneity of adsorbents, the type of
coverage and possibility of interaction between the
adsorbate species.
Adsorption data are usually described by adsorption
isotherms, such as Langmuir and Freundlich
isotherms. These isotherms relate metal uptake per
unit mass of adsorbent, qe, to the equilibrium
adsorbate concentration in the bulk fluid phase Ce.
The Freundlich isotherm model is an empirical
relationship describing the adsorption of solutes from
a liquid to a solid surface and assumes that different
sites with several adsorption energies are involved.
Freundlich adsorption isotherm is the relationship
between the amounts adsorbed per unit mass of
adsorbent, qe, and the concentration of the nickel at
equilibrium, Ce.
The logarithmic form of the equation becomes,
Where, Kfandn are the Freundlich constants, the
characteristics of the system. Kf andn are the
indicators of the adsorption capacity and adsorption
intensity, respectively. For this case, the plot of log
Cevs log qewas employed to generate the intercept
value of Kfand the slope of n.
The experimental results obtained for the optimum
adsorbent dosage of 100 g/l, rapid mixing contact
time of 50 min. against the different dilution ratio is
used to fit the isotherm model. In this study,
Freundlich isotherm was used to fit the experimental
data of TDS and sulphate in an electroplating industry
effluent and is presented in Figs.4 and 5 respectively.
3.5
TDS
3.0
2.5
Log qe
2.0
1.5
1.0
y = 0.460x + 1.625
0.5 R² = 0.963
0.0
2.0 2.5 3.0 3.5
Log Ce
Fig.4Freundlich Adsorption Isotherm for TDS
 2.8
2.8 Sulphate
2.7
2.7
2.6
Log qe
2.6
2.5
2.5
2.4
2.4 y = 0.830x + 0.221
R² = 0.969
2.3
2.3
2.5 2.6
2.7 2.8 2.9 3.0
Log Ce
Fig.5Freundlich Adsorption Isotherm for Sulphate
It can be seen from Figs.4 and 5 that the isotherm
data fits the Freundlich equation well (R2=0.9638 for
TDS and 0.9696 for sulphate). From Fig.4, the
values of Kfandn were found to be 1.62 and 0.615 for
the parameter TDS. From Fig.7, the values of Kfand
n were found to be 0.221 and 1.12for the parameter
sulphate. 0.0071 L/mg for the parameter sulphate.
IV.CONCLUSION
The experiments have been performed to know the
effect of Albizialebbeckpod powder for removing
TDS and sulphate in the electroplating industry
effluent. The experimental data were fitted to
Freundlich isotherm model. The results of the
present study indicated that the adsorption capacity of
Albizialebbeckpod powder for removing TDS and
sulphate in the electroplating industry effluent
increased with decreasing of initial concentration. It
was also found that the maximum adsorption by the
Albizialebbeckpod powder for removing TDS and
sulphate in the electroplating industry effluent found
to be 86.2 % and 88.8 % respectively and were
obtained at an optimum dosage of 100 mg/l,
concentration dilution of 5 and rapid mixing contact
time of 50 min. Based on the results obtained from
the isotherm model, it was found that the equilibrium
data fitted well with Freundlinch isotherm model.
Thus, the results of experimental and model studies
indicated that use of Albizialebbeckpod powder for
removing TDS and sulphate in the electroplating
industry effluent seems to be an economical and
worthwhile alternative over conventional methods.
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