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Casuarina equisetifolia bark as a natural ion exchanger for removal of heavy metal from industrial effluent

P.N.Kamble, N.V.Apsingekar, H.R.Aher, V.B.Gaikwad, S.R.Kuchekar

The effluent samples from electroplating and metal tool making industry were analyzed for heavymetal like iron, chromium, nickel, zinc and copper. Bark ofCasuarina equisetifolia tested for efficiency. The barkwas dried and treated with 39 % formaldehyde and 0.2 N sulphuric acid. Column was prepared using this treated material and used as ion exchanger in column. Effluent was passed through column and the eluent was analyzed for heavy metals concentration using standard AAS method. It is observed that iron, chromium, zinc and nickelwere removed fromelectroplating andmetal tool industry effluent. The removal efficiency of heavy metals such as chromium, nickel, iron and zinc was found to be 42.5%, 59.8%, 93.7%and 58.8 % respectively. The results revels that, Casuarina equisetifolia is natural ion exchanger for removal of heavymetals fromeffluent.