Agricultural and Biological Research

Bioremediation of tannery effluent using bio-absorbent (coir pith) for removal of heavy metal from tanning industry in Dindigul district

Jarina Banu S* and Delphine Rose MR

Tannery industries use a numerous amount of heavy metals in different processes and significant losses during the process and are discharged in the effluent. The present study deals with the analysis of physicochemical parameters of both untreated and treated tannery effluent in Dindigul district. The parameters such as pH, Total Dissolved Solids, Total Alkalinity, Total Hardness, Magnesium, Nitrate etc., and heavy metals like Copper, Iron, Chromium, Zinc, and Lead were analysed using standard protocols. The effluent from the tannery industry was the major source of pollution which will affect the flora and fauna existing in the environment. Biosorption efficiency of coir pith, a waste product from coir industry, was investigated in this study for the removal of heavy metal from tannery effluent. All the parameters were more or less higher for untreated effluent compared to that of the treated. The presence of heavy metal such as Chromium, Copper, Zinc, Iron, and Lead was observed higher in control. After the treatment of effluent with coir pith the heavy metals were reduced to 25% concentration effluent. The present study explores the effectiveness of utilization of coir pith, as a bio sorbent for heavy metal removal. Bioremediation technologies developed can act as good sustainable options for the future in heavy metal removal from industrial effluents.