ARUN K. VUPPALADADIYAM AND S.S. VARSHA VUPPALADADIYAM
Abstract
A traditional method for removal of iron using different plant derived ashes has been systematically investigated. Different plant derived ashes, viz., rise husk, teak leaves and ground nut shell has been tested. Intensifying the precipitation of iron at high pH caused by ash is the principle behind the study. The laboratory study involved analysing the chemical parameters of the ashes and their efficiency in removing iron from synthetically prepared water with respect to amount of ash and raise in pH of the water. The ash obtained from groundnut shell proved to be effective in removing iron below permissible limits. A cost-effective and easily made system to remove iron was designed and tested in the laboratory. The ash obtained from groundnut shell was found to remove iron below 0.3 ppm, not allowing pH of water to rise. The optimum value of ash to remove iron from water having iron concentration 2.40 ppm was 400 mg L-1. The amount of ash can be increased for water with high concentration of Fe and can be decreased with time during continuous use of system. Acceptability of the method can be examined by carrying chemical analysis of the water already treated.