CERB412: FINAL YEAR PROJECT 1

APPLICATION OF USED
TEALEAVES AS NATURAL
POLLUTANT (NITRATE)
REMOVAL AGENT
PRESENT BY:
AHMAD ADIL ADHAM BIN MOHMAD @ MOHAMMAD
CE093257

BACKGROUND OF STUDY:
NITRATE (NO3)

Combination of Nitrogen and Oxygen and it can be convert to Nitrite (NO 2)

(IF TO HIGH, IT ALSO CAN LEAD TO POTENTIAL HEALTH RISK)

Primary source of nitrogen for plants, occurs naturally in soil and water

Most widespread contaminants in water source:

Nitrate sources are from:

1.

Wastes from livestock operations

2.

Septic tank/ drainfield effluent

3.

Crop and lawn fertilizers

(N DEPOSITION DOUBLE IN PAST 50 YEARS)

4.

Municipal wastewater sludge application

5.

Natural geologic nitrogen

BACKGROUND OF STUDY:
IMPACT OF NITRATE (NO3) TO ECOSYSTEM

Impact on water source:

Highly encourage the growth of algal eutrophication in water source occur

(EUTROPHICATION CAUSE THE DENSE GROWTH OF PLANT LIFE & DEATH AQUATIC ANIMAL DUE TO LACK O2)

Impact on human being:

Infants receive greatest exposure towards nitrate compare to adults (WATER-BASED FOOD)

Interfere the ability of the blood carry oxygen to vital tissues throughout the body in infants of six months or
younger cause Methemoglobinemia (AKA BLUE BABY SYNDROME)

Pregnant women, as well as nursing mother are intolerant to Nitrate may affect the infants directly

Excess nitrate in drinking water can cause cancer, gastric, miscarriage, thyroid disorders & birth defects.

Impact on animals (livestock):

acute poisoning may occur 30 minutes to 4 hours after consuming plants & water with NO 3
(LOOKS NORMAL TODAY, FOUND DEAD NEXT DAY)

Symptom salivation & frequent urination, follow by breathing difficulties, respiratory rate increase,
chocolate colored blood & mucous membrane

Become weak, reluctant to move and have convulsions before die.

(PREGNANT CATTLE ABORT AFTER RECOVER)

BACKGROUND OF STUDY:
APPLICATION OF TEALEAVES AS ADSORBENTS

One of third of dry matters in tea leaves waste contains functional groups that able
to remove pollutants from water source

Functional groups lignin, tannin, phenolic compounds (carboxylic, aromatic

carboxylic, phenolic hydroxyl & oxyl groups)

Use for treatment process in removing heavy metal

Treatment efficiency is 100% (PRECISE CHOOSING OF ADSORBENT AMOUNT)

Material is cheap convenient & practical to increase treatment efficiency

by pre-treatment with some chemicals (ACID, BASE, DETERGENT)

PROBLEM STATEMENT

If the wastewater untreated - it would negatively affect

the water source and environment.

Nowadays, various method have been developed to treat

wastewater.

Most effective method to treat wastewater adsorption

Using activated carbon as adsorbents

OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

To determine the possibility of used tealeaves in removing

pollutants (nitrate) in wastewater

To analyze the percentage of nitrate removal from

wastewater

To asses the efficiency of adsorption method by using

tealeaves in removing nitrate

SCOPE OF STUDY

In this study, an analysis for application of used tea leaves as natural

pollutant removal agent is conduct to ensure the sufficient removal of
nitrate in wastewater.

Below are the scope of study for this study:

Effect the dosage of used tealeaves towards pH value

Percentage of Nitrate Removal

Contact Time

METHODOLGY: FLOW CHART

PROBLEM
IDENTIFICATION
COLLECTION OF
INFORMATION
LABORATORY
EXPERIMENT
DATA
COLLECTION
DATA
ANALYSIS

METHODOLOGY: MATERIALS

Materials:

Used Tealeaves buy the tealeaves powder at local market

Chemicals:

Nitrate

Aluminium Nitrate/ Calcium Nitrate

Sulphuric Acid

to be purchase from
chemical manufacturer

METHODOLOGY: MATERIALS (CONT.)

Preparation of Adsorbent Used Tealeaves:

AS ORIGINAL CONDITION

ACTIVATED CARBON:
1.

The tea leaves will be boil in the water until the filter water is clear.

2.

It will be dry in the oven at 60C for 48 hours.

3.

After drying process, the tea leaves will be grind and sieve to obtain size of 0.5
mm to 1.0 mm.

4.

Keep in container for further usage.

Preparation of Adsorbate Synthetic Water:

1.

Prepare 6 1000 ml beakers of distilled water and adjust the initial pH to pH 6 by using
70 ml of sulphuric acid.

2.

Then, add the mixture with Aluminium Nitrate/ Calcium Nitrate in each beakers, at
volumes of 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 and 40 mg/l respectively.

3.

Put the adsorbate on the jar tester, release the stirrer into the beaker and mix it
simultaneously for 1 minute of rapid mixing at 80 rpm.

4.

Repeat all the steps for preparing adsorbate with pH 7 and pH 8.

JAR TESTER

METHODOLOGY: PROCEDURE
1.

After preparing 6 beakers of adsorbates with pH 6, pour 300 g of used tealeaves

original condition in all beakers and allow 1 minutes mixing on jar tester at 80 rpm.

2.

Once 1 minute is pass, continue mix it slowly for 20 minutes at 30 rpm.

3.

After 20 minutes, the treated water from jar tester is remove and rest the water for 1
hour.

4.

Allow the flocs to settle for 15 minutes before taking the sample for reading.

5.

In every intervals of 10 minutes for 1 hour, take the a few ml sample gently and put it
into spectrophotometer to measure the percentage of nitrate removal.

6.

Observe the reading of spectrophotometer.

7.

Repeat the experiment from step 1 to 6 by using the activated carbon of used
tealeaves. Used the different adsorbates with the same pH value.

8.

Repeat the experiment from step 1 to 7 by using adsorbate with different pH value,
which are pH 7 and pH 8.

RESULT TABULATION
NO OF JAR

TIME INTERVAL
(MIN)

CONCENTRATION
OF NITRATE (mg/l)

ADSORBENT
WEIGHT (g)

10

10

300

20

15

300

30

20

300

40

30

300

50

40

300

60

50

300

10

10

300

20

15

300

30

20

300

40

30

300

50

40

300

pH6
2

PERCENTAGE
REMOVAL OF
NITRATE (%)

GRAPH
PERCENTAGE OF NITRATE REMOVAL vs. CONTACT TIME

CONCLUSION EXPECTED OUTCOMES

the used tealeaves is reliable enough in removing pollutant from

water source

Effect on relationship between usage of used tealeaves with contact

time and pH value

the effectiveness of adsorption method in removing pollutant from

water

Amount of percentage removal of nitrate