• 2019-11-10
• Akpoveta O.V, Medijor W.O, Ajimuda I.D., Egharevba, F.
• Volume 1, Issue 1

Abstract

The treatment of sea water collected from Araromi beach in Ondo State, Nigeria, was studied using activated carbon processed from coconut shell. Water quality index for studying the treatment process includes alkalinity, turbidity, colour, salinity, conductivity, pH, T.D.S, D.O, suspended solid, total hardness, B.O.D, C.O.D, chloride, sulphate, phosphate, nitrate, calcium, potassium, Iron, magnesium, manganese, lead, chromium, and nickel. These parameters were determined using standard analytical methods. The water was found to be contaminated in terms of its total hardness, C.O.D, conductivity, T.D.S, turbidity, colour, chloride, phosphate, sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium content before treatment, since they exceeded permissible limits for drinking water. Evaluation of the physicochemical properties after treatment shows that the process was quite effective in reducing the levels of sea water turbidity, T.S.S, colour, chloride, sulphate, nitrate, manganese, Iron, lead, calcium, magnesium, total hardness, B.O.D and C.O.D. Kinetic investigation using an evaluation of optimization plots on different kinetic models and their regression analysis showed that the treatment process for B.O.D and C.O.D followed zero order kinetics with rate constant of 5.94 mg/Lmin−1 and 0.05 mg/Lmin−1, as well as half-life of 35 minutes 24seconds and 58 minutes respectively. The method shows potential in treating sea water, but still requires complementary treatment alternatives in order to effectively treat the water to acceptable levels. The treated sea water using activated carbon still presents an environmental challenge to the local population around the coastal sea line that relies on the sea water for domestic and general purposes, except subjected to further advance, more effective and environmentally friendly water treatment techniques.