Removal of Chromium Load from Leather Industry Effluents by Using Vegetable Tanned Leather Shavings as Adsorbent

In this study the possibility of using vegetable tanned leather shaving wastes as adsorbent for removing the chromium load in leather industry effluents was investigated. Optimum conditions were determined by investigating the effects of adsorbent amount, time, and pH on chromium adsorption. Additionally; isotherms, kinetics and thermodynamics of the adsorption were studied. According to findings the data fit to Langmuir isotherm with 0.10 L/g Langmuir constant and 10.24 mg/g maximum adsorption capacity. When adsorption kinetics was considered, the data fit Pseudo 2nd order kinetic rate model. According to thermodynamic findings, the adsorption was found to be endothermic, the randomness of solid/solution interface increased during the adsorption and the adsorption happened spontaneously. According to these findings chromium adsorption on vegetable tanned leather shavings is a complex process by taking place physically and chemically.