Figure 1: Removal Rate vs CuO:SA Ratio
1. Introduction
Chlorophenol is a toxic organic compound commonly found in industrial wastewater. Effective removal of chlorophenol is essential to mitigate its harmful effects on the environment and human health. This experiment investigates the optimal ratio of a composite material made of copper oxide (CuO) and sodium alginate for the removal of chlorophenol from water. Sodium alginate serves as a biopolymer matrix to encapsulate CuO particles, facilitating the adsorption and degradation of chlorophenol.
2. Objective
To determine the optimal ratio of CuO to sodium alginate for maximum chlorophenol removal efficiency from polluted water.
3. Materials
Copper oxide (CuO) powder, Sodium alginate, Chlorophenol solution (10 mg/L), Calcium chloride (CaCl2) solution (2% w/v), Distilled water, Magnetic stirrer, UV-Vis spectrophotometer, Beakers, pipettes, and analytical balance
4. Methodology
4.1 Preparation of CuO-Alginate Beads
- Prepare mixtures of CuO and sodium alginate in varying weight ratios (e.g., 1:1, 2:1, 1:2, etc.).
- Stir the mixtures until homogeneous.
- Using a pipette, drop the mixtures into a 2% CaCl2 solution to form beads.
- Allow the beads to harden for 30 minutes and then rinse with distilled water.
4.2 Chlorophenol Removal Test
- Add a fixed mass of beads (1 g) to 50 mL of chlorophenol solution (10 mg/L) in separate beakers.
- Stir the solution for 2 hours at room temperature.
- Measure the residual chlorophenol concentration using a UV-Vis spectrophotometer at 274 nm.
4.3 Calculation of Removal Efficiency
The removal efficiency is calculated using the following formula:
Removal Efficiency (%) = ((Initial Concentration - Final Concentration) / Initial Concentration) × 100
Table 1: Chlorophenol Removal Efficiency at Different CuO:SA Ratios
| CuO:Sodium Alginate Ratio |
Initial Chlorophenol Concentration (mg/L) |
Residual Chlorophenol Concentration (mg/L) |
Removal Efficiency (%) |
| 1:1 |
10 |
4.5 |
55 |
| 2:1 |
10 |
3.2 |
68 |
| 1:2 |
10 |
5.1 |
49 |
| 3:1 |
10 |
2.8 |
72 |
| 1:3 |
10 |
6.2 |
38 |
6. Discussion
- The results indicate that the ratio of 3:1 (CuO:Sodium Alginate) achieved the highest removal efficiency of 72%. This suggests that a higher proportion of CuO enhances the adsorption and degradation of chlorophenol.
- Ratios with excess sodium alginate (e.g., 1:2 and 1:3) exhibited lower removal efficiencies, likely due to the reduced availability of active CuO sites.
- The encapsulation of CuO in sodium alginate provides structural integrity to the beads and facilitates ease of handling.
- Further studies could explore the recyclability of the beads and their performance with varying initial concentrations of chlorophenol.
7. Conclusion
The optimal ratio of CuO to sodium alginate for the removal of chlorophenol from polluted water is 3:1. This composition maximizes removal efficiency while maintaining structural stability of the beads.