The feasibility study of ostrich feathers in removing phenol from aqueous solution

Background: Phenol and its compounds are common environmental contaminants, which because of their potential harm to human health, are considered as priority pollutants. In this study, the potential of ostrich feather for phenol removing from aqueous solution was studied.

Methods: Removing the phenol from the aqueous solution was studied via considering the effect of absorbent (0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.5, 0.7, 1 and 1.5), initial phenol concentration (1 to 50 mg/L), contact time (30 min to 30 hr) and pH (2 to 9) in batch phase. The Description of adsorption Freundlich isotherm has also been accomplished and Excel Software was employed for analyzing the data.

Results: In the Batch ion-exchange process, it reached equilibrium after about 24 hour of contact and the maximum removal of phenol received in the pH range 2 for an initial concentration of 1 mg/L and 0.7 g adsorbent dose.

Conclusion: Ostrich feather has higher adsorption capacity for phenol in low densities. However, the experimental results indicated that the capability of feather to absorb phenol and consequently its possible utilization in the treatment of phenol-contaminated solution and its adsorptive capacity is limited in high densities.