African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 6 (3), pp. 238-242, 5 February 2007   

ISSN 1684–5315 © 2007 Academic Journals        

Full Length Research Paper

Removal of heavy metal from industrial wastewater using hydrogen peroxide

M.A.O. Badmus*, T.O.K. Audu and B.U. Anyata

Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Benin, Benin-City, Nigeria.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: badmusolalekan@yahoo.com.

Accepted 17 November, 2006

The batch removal of heavy metals lead (Pb), zinc (Zn) and copper (Cu) from industrial wastewater effluent under different experimental conditions using hydrogen peroxide was investigated. Experimental results indicated that at pH 6.5, pre-treatment analysis gave the following values: Pb 57.63 mg/l, Zn 18.9 mg/l and Cu 13.9 mg/l. Removal of heavy metals was optimum at pH 7.6, a temperature of 30^oC, 1.5% hydrogen peroxide concentration and 60 min holding time, reducing the amounts of Pb, Zn and Cu by 83.5, 85.5 and 82.23%, respectively.

Keywords: Alum, effluent, hydrogen peroxide.