Removal of Phenol from Waste Water by using Saw Dust

Phenol is a major pollutant in the wastewater because of its presence in the effluent of more processing and refining plants. Suitable method for phenol removal can be selected based on availability of the material, extent of separation required and properties of phenolic effluent. Locally available sawdust, a very low cost and promising material was tested experimentally as an adsorbent, after carbonization, for the removal of phenol from industrial waste waters for a safe disposal. The experiments were performed in batch wise to remove phenol from synthesized aqueous solutions. The equilibrium of adsorption was determined as a function of the solution, contact time, adsorbent dose. Adsorption isotherms of phenol for adsorbents were determined and correlated with the usual isotherm equations such as Langmuir and Freundlich. Equilibrium model analysis indicates the fitness of Langmuir Isotherm model (R2=0.9943) to Phenol-Sawdust adsorption system.