Adsorption of chromium ions from tannery effluents onto activated carbon prepared from rice husk and potato peel by H3PO4 activation

Abstract Two biomass agricultural waste materials; rice husks (RH) and potato peels (PP) were used as precursors for preparation of activated carbons by chemical activation using phosphoric acid adsorption hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)] from tannery effluents. The prepared husk (RH–AC) peel carbon (PP–AC) characterized Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy X-ray diffraction. Adsorption experiments performed varying pH, agitation speed, contact time, adsorbent dose initial metal ion concentration. Freundlich, Langmuir Temkin isotherms to analyze the equilibrium data obtained at different conditions. It was found that well fitted Freundlich equation process follow pseudo-second-order rate kinetics. results show a maximum Cr(VI) uptake being attained pH 2.0, with removal efficiency 99.88% 99.52% RH–AC PP–AC, respectively. PP–AC are effective chromium(VI) ions wastewater.