REMOVAL OF CHROMIUM (VI) FROM WATER USING NATURAL HYDROXYAPATITE EXTRACTED FROM Oreochromis niloticus (TILAPIA FISH) SCALE

• Main Author: ABDUL LATIF, AMIRUL FAIZ
• Format: Thesis
• Language: English; English; English
• Published: 2024
• Subjects: T175-178 Industrial research. Research and development
• Online Access: http://eprints.uthm.edu.my/12627/

Extensive utilization of heavy metals in numerous industrial processes nowadays had led to heavy metal pollutions in the water. The presence of hexavalent chromium, Cr (VI) may lead to serious health issues as discussed in many cases in Langat, Bunus and Kelantan River. In this study, tilapia fish scales are synthesized by calcination method at 900 ºC to produce natural adsorbent. X-Ray Diffraction Analysis (XRD) showed highly crystalline hydroxyapatite (HAp) peak. Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM) analysis exhibited the morphology of the powder that was agglomerated irregular cloud-like spherical shapes HAp particle, while Energy-Dispersive X-Ray (EDX) analysis provides the Ca/P ratio of 1.67. Fourier-transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis validated the presence of carboxyl and hydroxyl groups in HAp adsorbent that affected the adsorption process. The parameters contributed to the adsorption process which are adsorbent dosage, pH, initial concentration, and contact time were evaluated in batch adsorption study. From this study, it is found that the ideal condition was at adsorbent dosage of 6 g, pH 7, 30 mg/L initial chromium concentration and 150 minutes contact time with 95% chromium removal. This research revealed that the Langmuir isotherm model best fitted the adsorption process occurred with R2 > 0.999 and adsorption capacity at 47.16 mg/g. The kinetic study also showed that the adsorption of chromium justified the pseudo-second-order model representing the chemisorption process. Desorption rate recorded the highest rate of 90% in the first cycle with a recovery rate of 95% within 30 minutes using 0.1 M HCl. This research confirms the ability of HAp adsorbent synthesized from tilapia fish scale as an effective adsorbent to remove chromium in water.