Pb removal in pulp and paper industry leachate wastewater using activated carbon-ceramic composite adsorbent

Abstract The leachate wastewater from pulp and paper industry is known containing various types of heavy metals, the contamination of heavy metals contained in industrial wastewater which is released to water body will accumulate and eventually pollute the environment. The improper wastewater disposal by industries does not only greatly reduce marine vegetation and animal life but also contributes to the destruction of aquatic ecosystem. It is necessary to do the wastewater treatment to eliminate or at least to reduce the heavy metal content to the legal standard quality. One of the most commonly method used for wastewater treatment is adsorption, this study uses the adsorbent made from the mixture of clay and activated carbon formed into ceramic balls with the size of ± 0.5 cm in diameter. The ratios of clay and activated carbon are 6:1, 6:2, 6:3, 6:4 and 6:5. The pulp and paper wastewater treatment method is conducted by contacting wastewater containing Pb with the adsorbent in a column made of glass of 2 inches diameter and 50 cm length, contact time variations are 30, 45, 60, 75, 90, 105, 120, 135, 150, 165, 180, 195, 210, and 240 min. The most favorable result is 92.45%, the adsorbent is able to reduce the Pb concentration from 0.53 mg/L to 0.04 mg/L respectively at 180 minutes contact time with adsorbent ratio of 6:5.