Fabrication of Sugarcane Bagasse Based Mesh as an Adsorbent of Copper (Cu2+) Metal Contaminant for Wastewater Treatment
Rex Bayer Jr.1, Serafin Farinas IV1, Justine Navarra1 and Raphael Eric Yturralde1
1Philippine Science High School Western Visayas Campus – Bito-on, Jaro, Iloilo City 5000
Abstract
Water pollution is one of the main problems faced in the present due to contaminants from industrial areas discharged to the environment such as toxic heavy metals. Sugarcane bagasse as a raw waste material can be utilized to adsorb known metal contaminants such as copper. In this study, the percent reduction of the fabricated bagasse mesh was investigated. The testing of the product involved exposure of the mesh to known concentrations of synthesized wastewater. The final concentrations were then analyzed using the UV-Vis spectrophotometer. Results show that the mean of percent reduction amongst 5 replicates is 37.2 31.5 percent. Certain parameters, such as contact time and pore size, affect the adsorption rate of the mesh yielding low in value. From these results, it is concluded that sugarcane bagasse based mesh is viable for copper adsorption. Modifications is recommended to further increase the adsorption rate of the product.