Removal Of Heavy Metals From Industrial Wastewaters Using Local Alum And Other Conventional Coagulants - a comparative study

Abstract

Wastewater samples from battery, paint and textile industries were treated with different doses of locally available alum, aluminum sulphate and ferric chloride in order to determine and compare their effectiveness in removing heavy metal contents from the wastewaters. The percentage removal of the metals from the industrial wastewaters increased with mgL-l dosage of the coagulants used with optimal performance generally at a slightly alkaline pH. Local alum proved to be equally effective in removing heavy metals from the industrial wastewater samples compared with the conventional aluminium sulphate and ferric chloride.

IFE Journal of Science Vol. 9 (2) 2007 pp. 185-190