Treatment of Dairy Wastewater Using Tamarind Kernel Adsorbent

Mrs.B.Shoba , R.Sakthiganesh, S.Raju

Abstract

The effectiveness of Tamarind kernel powder, a cheap agro-based product, as an adsorbent evaluated to remove COD,TS, turbidity and sulphate present in a dairy industry wastewater. Experiments were carried out by adding Tamarind kernel powder adsorbent to the dairy industry wastewater at different dosages, different rapid mixing contact time and slow mixing contact time. Maximum removal of COD, total solids, turbidity and sulphate was obtained at an optimum dosage of 4g/l (turbidity-57%, total solids-77.14%,COD-68.18%, sulphates-71.42%) and the maximum removal of COD,  total solids, turbidity and sulphate was obtained at an optimum rapid mixing contact time of 15 minutes (turbidity-73%, total solids-76.19%, COD- 79.5%, sulphates-85.71%) and an optimum slow mixing contact time of 40 minutes ( turbidity- 78.8%, total solids- 80.95%, COD -92.05%, sulphates – 88.57%).