Introduction

CHAPTER-I

INTRODUCTION

Nature indeed serves as a rich storehouse of all the resources to satisfy the needs of

each and every organism in the world. However, with the development of knowledge and

newer technologies, developed by the human beings all the corner of this earth should be

severely affected the environment, which causes many unwanted result. In recent years

with increasing realization of the health hazards and toxicity associated with the

indiscriminate disturbances given by humans to the environment, by using several synthetic

goods in the entire field, related to their life.

The impact of man on environment and the human activity has changed be which in

turn is changing the face of the earth. Increasing human population and technology had

been exerting severe pressure on earth most of which cannot be reserved.

Environment can be defined as one’s surrounding. The global environment consists

of the hydrosphere, the atmosphere and the lithosphere. The atmosphere contains a mixture

of gases, like carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide methane and chlorofluorocarbons. The

atmosphere extends outward from the surface of the earth, oceans, lakes, streams and other

water bodies from the hydrosphere.

Factors affecting Environment

There are many factors which affect our environment adversely, e.g. over and

unplanned exploitation of resources, exploding population growth, industrialization use of

synthetic materials. Man has started over exploiting the natural resources such as water,

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land and fuels etc., which in turn cause the depletion (or) shortage of resources. Over

exploitation of the natural resources like forest, may result in shortage of fuel wood,

changed climate, soil erosion, drought, etc.

Water pollution

“Water pollution may be defined as alteration is physical, chemical and biological

properties of water which may cause harmful effects on human and aquatic life”. “The

contamination of water with soluble sewage and industrial waste is called water pollution”.

“Foreign materials either from natural and other sources contaminate water supplies and

may be harmful to life, because of their toxicity, reduction of normal oxygen level of water,

aesthetically unsuitable effects and spread of epidemics” WHO (1966).

Water is the most important natural resource. It is vital for the maintenance of all

form of life and vegetation. We depend on water for irrigation, industry, domestic needs,

drinking purpose, for sanitation and disposal of waste. Our water bodies are ponds, lakes,

sea, rivers, oceans which have become polluted due to industrial development and

urbanizations.

70% of the Earth is covered by water and that is why it is called the ‘Blue planet’.

Only 2.5% of the world’s water is fresh while 97.5% is found in our oceans. Only 0.3% of

fresh water is available from rivers, lakes and reservoirs 30% from ground water, the rest is

stored in distant glaciers, ice sheets and inaccessible areas.

In India, the available fresh water from both surface and ground water is 5 million

hectares and taking the average of 100 cubic meters per year per person as the water stress.

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At present ground water caters to about 5% of the irrigation requirements and 80%

of domestic and sizeable portion of the industrial requirements. Day by day our water

sources are getting increasingly polluted.

Sources of water pollution:

There are two main sources of water pollutions as follows:

1. Natural sources: Water pollutants include soil erosion, volcanic eruption,

landslides, coastal and cliff erosion, floods, decomposition of plants and

animals.

2. Man induced sources: Water pollutants include industrial development,

urbanization, agricultural sources and cultural sources.

The main sources of water pollution are:

 Sewage and other wastes in cities

 Industrial effluents and waste products

 Agricultural discharge, chemical fertilizers used, and

 Thermal power plant and nuclear plant waste.

Types of water pollution

Water pollution may be divided on the basis of sources and storages of water such

as:

(a) Surface water pollution

(b) Lake water pollution

(c) Ground water pollution

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(d) Sea water pollution

(e) River water pollution

Types of impurities in water

The impurities present in the water may be broadly classified into three types.

i) Physical impurities

(a) Suspended impurities like sand, oil droplets, vegetables & animal matter,

impart turbidity to water.

(b) Colloidal impurities like finely divided silica, clay& organic waste products

impact color, odour, & waste water.

ii) Chemical impurities

a) Dissolved salts like bicarbonate, sulphate & chloride of Carbonates of Na & Kr.

Dissolved Mg and Ca salts in water cause “Hardness” where ass alkali salts

(bicarbonates of K & Na & bicaobonates of Ca & Mg) make the water “Alkline”.

b) Dissolved gases like O2, CO2, H2S, SO2 make the water “Acidic” so they accelerate

the rate of corrosion.

iii) Bacterial impurities like Fungi, bacteria& other microorganism cause diseases.

Prevention and Control of Water Pollution

Control of water pollution requires several remedial measures and center Water

Control Acts.

The following measures are suggested to control water pollution.

 Maintaining stability of the eco-system

 Reutilization and recycling of waste

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 Removal of pollutants and

 Management of water pollution

Adsorption

Adsorption is a separation process in which certain components of the fluid phase

are transferred to the surface of the solid adsorbents. When a solid surface is exposed to a

fluid phase, he molecule from the bulk of the fluid phase have tendency to accumulate or

concentrate at the surface of the solid. The phenomenon of the enrichment of chemical

substance at the surface of a solid is called ‘adsorption’. All adsorption performance

process is depending on solid-liquid equilibrium and on mass transfer rates. If the mass

transfer is in opposite direction, then it is called ‘desorption’

Types of adsorption

Adsorption can be classified into categories as described below,

1. Depending upon the concentration

In adsorption the concentration of one substance is different at the surface of the

other substance as compared to adjoining bulk (or) interior phase.

(i) Positive Adsorption

(ii) Negative Adsorption

(i) Positive Adsorption

If the concentration of adsorbate is more one on the surface as compared to its

concentration in the bulk phase, then it is called Positive Adsorption.

(ii) Negative Adsorption

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If the concentration of adsorbate is less than its concentration in the bulk, then it is

called Negative Adsorption.

2. Depending upon the nature of force existing between Adsorbate & Adsorbent

Physical Adsorption

If the force of attraction existing between adsorbent are adsorbate & adsorbent are

Vander Waal’s Force the adsorption is called Physisorption (or) Vander Waal’s adsorption.

It can be easily reversed by heating or decreasing the pressure.

Chemical Adsorption

If the force of attraction between adsorbate particles & adsorbent almost of the

same strength as chemical bonds is called Chemisorption (or) Langmuir adsorption

It cannot be easily reversed. Generally heavy metals are present in low

concentration in waste water and are difficult to remove from water. Many physic-chemical

methods have been proposed for their removal from industrial effluents.

Commonly used methods for separation and removal of metals are extraction,

precipitation, crystallization, ultrafiltration, carbon adsorption et., But these conventional

methods are neither much effective nor economical. Adsorption is an effective technique

used industrially especially in water and waste treatment. Cost is an important factor for

commercially used carbon adsorbents are expensive.

Commercial Adsorbents

A number of materials have been extensively investigated as adsorbents in water

pollution control. Some of the important ones including silica gel, activated alumina,

zeolites and activated carbon etc.,

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a) Silica Gel

It is classified into three types. They are regular, intermediate and low density gels.

Regular density silica is prepared is as acid medium and shows high surface area

(750m2/g). Intermediate and low density silica gels have low surface area (300-350and

100-200m2/g).

The gel is considered a good adsorbent and is used in many industries. Modified

forms of silica have also been widely explored for the removal of different pollutants.

b) Activated alumina

The activated alumina comprises a series of non-equilibrium forms of partially

hydroxylated alumina oxide, Al2O3. It is used to remove water from organic liquids

including gasoline, kerosene, oils chlorinated having the aromatic hydrocarbon and many

chlorinated hydrocarbons having the surface area ranging from 200 to 300m2g.

c) Zeolites

Zeolites are alumino silicates with Si/Al ratios between one and infinity. There are

40 natural and over 100 synthetic zeolites. They are also considered as selective adsorbents

Zeolites based materials are extremely versatile and their use includes detergent

manufacture, ion-exchange resin (water softeners). Catalytic applications in petroleum

industry, separation process (i.e. molecular sieves) and as an adsorbent for H 2O, CO2, H2S.

The role of nature zeolite as effective adsorbents in water and waste water treatment.

d) Activated Carbon

Activated Carbon has undoubtedly been the most popular and widely used

adsorbents in waste treatment throughout the world. Charcoal has been recognized as the

oldest adsorbent known in waste water treatment. It is produced by a process of raw

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material dehydration and carbonization followed by activation. The product obtained is

known as activated carbon and has a process structure with a large surface area ranging

from 600 to 2000m2/g.

It is found to be a versatile adsorbent, which can remove diverse type of pollutants

such as metal ions, anions, dyes, phenols, detergents, pesticides, chlorinated hydrocarbons

and many other chemicals and organisms. In spite of abundant use of activated carbon, its

applications are sometimes restricted due to its higher cost. These are complex products

which are difficult to classify on the basis of their behavior, surface characteristic and

preparation methods.

They are,

1. Powered Activated Carbon (PAC)

2. Granular Activated Carbon (GAC)

3. Extruded Activated Carbon (EAC)

4. Bead Activated Carbon (BAC)

5. Impregnated Carbon

6. Polymer Coated Carbon

Low cost Alternative Adsorbent

Due to high cost and losses of Activated carbon in the application processes, there

is a growing interest in using low-cost alternative materials, for water pollution control,

where cost factor plays a major role. Low-cost alternative adsorbents can be prepared from

a wide variety of raw material, which are abundant and cheap, having high organic and low

inorganic content and these can be easily activated. Researchers have done on many such

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material like agricultural waste, bagasse, wool fiber, jute coir, rice, husk, saw dust, cotton

seed hulls, coconut shell, fly ash, tea and coffee dust, orange peel, etc., so far discussing the

importance of low-cost adsorbents in water pollution control, many of them are generally

either adsorbate specific (metal, dyes, phenols) or adsorbent-specific.

OCIMUM BASILICUM

Ocimum basilicum is the scientific name for basil, a culinary and aromatic herb in

the mint family, known for its sweet, peppery, and slightly clove-like flavor. It is used in

cuisines worldwide, and the plant is cultivated for its leaves and flowers, which have a

variety of traditional and medicinal applications, including antiviral, antibacterial, and

antioxidant properties. It is a tender plant that thrives in warm climates and requires full

sun and well-draining soil.

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KESARI POWDER

"Kesari powder" is not a standard term, but it refers to ground saffron, known as

kesar in Hindi, which is derived from the stigma of the Crocus sativus flower. The spice is

prized for its distinct aroma and flavor and is used to add a golden-yellow color to dishes,

particularly desserts, in many cultures, says Wikipedia. It is also used in traditional

medicine and as a dye. The main chemical present in it is Tartrazine.

TARTRAZINE

Tartrazine is a synthetic lemon-yellow dye, also known as E102 or FD&C Yellow

5, used to color food and other products like cosmetics and medications. It is widely used

because it is water-soluble and stable across a range of pH levels, but some studies suggest

it may have cytotoxic and mutagenic effects, raising health concerns, although the full

toxicological profile remains inconclusive.

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