Cyanide is one of the most hazardous chemicals that enter into water stream as a result of industrial activities. Effluent containing cyanide from various industries must be treated before its discharge to protect the bodies of water and the environment. Adsorption process has established great consideration and has a potential for the elimination of cyanide from aqueous solutions. Adsorption is a process in which a substance, usually a gas, accumulates on the surface of a solid. It is concerned with the separations of components from mixed systems. This study aimed to determine the potential of Jatrophacurcas L. dried leaves to adsorb free cyanide in contaminated water and evaluate the photodeactivation of adsorbed contaminant by subjecting the biomass to incandescent light. Batch experiments were conducted to study the main parameters such as initial concentration of cyanide, the level of cyanide adsorbed, contact time, adsorbent dose in the adsorption process and the temperature and exposure time in photo-deactivation of adsorbed cyanide. The results using colorimetric method clearly indicated that cyanide was substantially adsorbed by Jatrophacurcas L. leaves which were dependent on amount and time of exposure. Cyanide adsorption was concentration-dependent indicating that the higher the amount of biosorbent used; the higher level of cyanide was adsorbed. Likewise, the adsorbed cyanide exposed to light photons was deactivated and was dependent with time exposure.
Philippine E-Journals
