BAGASSE FLY ASH - A USEFUL NEW PRODUCT?

摘要

Bagasse fly ash, the material remaining after bagasse has been burned in the boilers during sugarcane processing, is considered a waste product, with few commercial uses. Recent literature has shown that fly ash has the ability to absorb pesticides from water. This makes way for a new value-added product for the sugar industry. In this study, we examined the usefulness of bagasse fly ash as an adsorbent for textile waste dyes, heavy metals and quaternary amines. Results have been promising, with removal of up to 99.8% of textile waste dyes and 7.5% removal of arsenic to 99.9% removal of chromium, mercury and lead. Examination of the structure and composition of fly ash indicates that the removal is based on chemisorption.