Evaluation of an adsorption process for the treatment of leachates using biopolymers extracted from organic waste obtained from the poultry industry

The adsorption capacity of three eggshell bioadsorbents was evaluated to remove contaminants from raw leachate. Optimal conditions for the removal of suspended solids, color, and organic compounds, as COD, were achieved by batch experiments with three levels of pH and absorbent concentrations. Kinetic studies and isotherms were developed to understand the behavior of COD removal by the bioadsorbents. The chemical and physical characterizations indicate the leachate used in the present study had characteristics between mature and intermediate leachates. The optimal adsorption conditions were pH 2.0 and 1.0 gram (0.5 g/L) of adsorbent. Adsorbent M showed the best adsorption capacities, removing 99.06% (1446 NTU) of turbidity, 86.25% (4140 UPt-Co) of color and 54.56% of COD (1530mg/L). The data obtained through the kinetic and isothermal tests were better fitted to the pseudo first order and Langmuir models, with an equilibrium adsorption capacity (Qe) of 139 mg of COD/g of adsorbent and a specific speed of 1.51 min-1.