Removal of Chromium and Zinc Heavy Metals in Waste Water Sample by Water Hyacinth using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometric Technique

Abstract

The adsorption of chromium and zinc heavy metals from waste water sample using water hyacinth which is a natural waste material as an adsorbent was studied. Atomic absorption spectrophotometric technique was used to determine the metals. Water hyacinth was conditioned in base solution, dried and crushed into the size of 100, 500 and 2000 micron. Waste water samples that composed of those two metals were prepared at the concentration of 5, 10 and 20 mg L-1. The results showed that the appropriate size of adsorbent, adsorption period and concentration of waste water sample were found to be 100 micron, 180 minutes and 20 mg L-1, respectively. The percentage of absorptive ability for chromium and zinc heavy metals by water hyacinth to be 98.83 and 97.98, respectively, was also indicated