Removal of hardness using coconut shell carbon

Abstract

Water contamination is an ongoing issue around the world, especially for poor people, who mostly depend on ground water as their source of drinking water. Coconut shells can be used as a material for softening as it is an easily available source of activated carbon. It is proved that it can make water safe and improve the taste of it by adsorbing heavy metals and toxic organic chemicals like pesticides. Coconut shell carbon (CSC) can also remove odor and turbidity of by removing certain suspended and dissolved solids. The present study aims to remove hardness present in water using coconut shell powder. Batch experiments were carried using varying concentrations of adsorbent dose at different contact time in order to reduce hardness present in the water sample. Optimum adsorbent dosage and optimum contact time were determined for maximum removal efficiency. This project succeeds by developing a low cost user friendly water treatment technique to rural people who faces the problem with hard water using locally available waste material like coconut shell.