TREATMENT OF INDUSTRIAL ANIMAL FEED PROCESSING WASTEWATER USING FUNCTIONALIZED NANO-ADSORBENT

This study was carried out to address the growing concern for treatment of animal feed processing industry wastewater using a developed nano-adsorbent. In this study, nano-adsorbent was produced from carbon nanotube via chemical catalytic vapour deposition method. This was further purified and functionalized using multi-step purification techniques to give purified carbon nanotube (P-CNTs). The obtained nano-adsorbent were characterized by high resolution scanning electron microscopy (HRSEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), and the Braunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) method. Clear different morphological features were displayed by HRSEM, HRTEM while crystallinity and mineralogical phases were observed by XRD. The length and diameter of the adsorbent was revealed by nanozetasizer analysis to be 4.20 nm and 35 nm respectively, with an aspect ratio of 3200. The BET analysis showed the surface area of the nano-adsorbent to be 227.639 m2/g and pore size to be 3.156. Furthermore, there were high percentage reduction of some physicochemical parameter and heavy metal content present in the wastewater. The TSS, BOD and COD was reduced by 98%, 82% and 76% respectively, while the removal of selected heavy metals (Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu and As) from animal feed wastewater revealed a removal efficiency as follow: 92% of As, 70% of Ni, 66% of Fe, 65% of Cu and 60% of Mn. Conclusively, it can be deduced that the nano-adsorbent is unique and has potential ability, large surface area and greater chemical reactivity for the treatment of animal feed processing wastewater. Hence, the treated wastewater can be re-used for industrial application and irrigation.