Removal of Chromium (VI) from Synthetic Wastewater Using Industrial Marble Waste

Abstract

Chromium (VI) is among the most toxic and persistent pollutants in the environment. Due to its severe ecological and health impacts, extensive efforts have been devoted to identifying low-cost and eco-friendly adsorbents for its removal from wastewater. In this study, waste powdered marble chips were utilized as an adsorbent for the removal of chromium (VI) from aqueous solutions. The adsorbent was characterized using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR) and Powder X-ray Diffraction (XRD).Batch adsorption experiments were conducted to evaluate the efficiency of powdered marble waste in removing chromium (VI) ions. The experimental results indicated a maximum removal efficiency of 98.15% and an adsorption capacity (qₑ) of 33.6 mg/g under optimal conditions: pH 6, adsorbent dose 40 g/L, contact time 12 hours, initial concentration 20 mg/L, and temperature 55°C. The adsorption data were found to fit well with the Langmuir isotherm model. Overall, the findings demonstrate that powdered marble waste is an efficient, economical, and environmentally friendly adsorbent for the removal of chromium (VI) from aqueous solutions. Further research is recommended using actual tannery wastewater to validate its performance under real-world conditions.