Utilization of natural rubber industry biosludge for adsorptive removal of hexavalent chromium and methylene blue from aqueous solutions

Abstract

The natural rubber industry biosludge (NRBS) was utilized to prepare four different adsorbents for removal of hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) and methylene blue (MB) from aqueous solutions. The NRBS was thermally treated in a muffle furnace to form natural rubber activated carbon (NRAC1 and NRAC2 through variation in temperature and time) whereas the NRBS was impregnated with ZnCl2 followed by thermal treatment in presence of nitrogen to prepare natural rubber chemically activated carbon (NRCAC). The NRCAC was further immobilized using sodium alginate to form NRCAC_Imm.