Presentation Title
Location
Start Date
29-3-2021 2:12 PM
End Date
29-3-2021 2:18 PM
Abstract
The utilization of fly ash as a potential adsorbent for the removal of environmental contaminant, bisphenol S, was demonstrated. In this study, the fly ash used is the wood residuals from biomass-fired power plants. The fly ash was obtained from the burning of wood chips, bark and wood fiber in biomass-fired power plants to generate electricity and process steam. These wood ash residuals that are produced are traditionally stored in onsite landfills or transported to permanent landfills at a significant cost to the biomass industry. In addition, the disposal of fly ash from biomass power plants absorbs considerable amounts of water from fly ash ponds in the environment and cause numerous environmental problems. As a result, the continued storage of fly ash in the environment is not favorable and ways to find useful applications for it is gaining a lot of interest as it reduces the environmental and economic impacts of their disposal. Bisphenols such as bisphenol A and bisphenol S are found in plastics which are commonly used in our everyday lives and are therefore ubiquitous in the environment. These compounds have been found to be endocrine-disrupting chemicals and, in some cases, are carcinogenic. They are therefore acutely toxic to humans and other living organisms. In view of their adverse health effects, their removal in the environment is warranted. In this study we particularly investigated the potential of fly ash for adsorptive removal of bisphenol S (BPS) in the environment. To study the adsorption capability and characteristics of the fly ash for bisphenol S, the analytical technique of UV-visible spectrophotometry was utilized.
Department
Chemistry
Faculty Advisor
Kingsley Donkor
Utilization of Chemically Treated Fly Ash as an Adsorbent for the Removal of Bisphenol S from the Environment
The utilization of fly ash as a potential adsorbent for the removal of environmental contaminant, bisphenol S, was demonstrated. In this study, the fly ash used is the wood residuals from biomass-fired power plants. The fly ash was obtained from the burning of wood chips, bark and wood fiber in biomass-fired power plants to generate electricity and process steam. These wood ash residuals that are produced are traditionally stored in onsite landfills or transported to permanent landfills at a significant cost to the biomass industry. In addition, the disposal of fly ash from biomass power plants absorbs considerable amounts of water from fly ash ponds in the environment and cause numerous environmental problems. As a result, the continued storage of fly ash in the environment is not favorable and ways to find useful applications for it is gaining a lot of interest as it reduces the environmental and economic impacts of their disposal. Bisphenols such as bisphenol A and bisphenol S are found in plastics which are commonly used in our everyday lives and are therefore ubiquitous in the environment. These compounds have been found to be endocrine-disrupting chemicals and, in some cases, are carcinogenic. They are therefore acutely toxic to humans and other living organisms. In view of their adverse health effects, their removal in the environment is warranted. In this study we particularly investigated the potential of fly ash for adsorptive removal of bisphenol S (BPS) in the environment. To study the adsorption capability and characteristics of the fly ash for bisphenol S, the analytical technique of UV-visible spectrophotometry was utilized.