Universiti Teknologi Petronas

About: Universiti Teknologi Petronas is a education organization based out in Ipoh, Malaysia. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Adsorption & Ionic liquid. The organization has 6127 authors who have published 11284 publications receiving 119400 citations.

Removal of Ni(II) ions from aqueous solutions using fixed-bed ion exchange column technique

Abstract: Ion exchange represents an efficient technique for removing of heavy metals from wastewater effluents. Limited number of studies focuses on fixed bed performance for metal removal. In this study, the removal of Ni 2+ from synthetic wastewater using a strong acidic cation exchange resin in a fixed bed columns was investigated. The experiments were conducted at different pH (3–7) and initial heavy metal concentrations (1.8, 2.8 and 3.8 g Ni/L). Investigation of the regeneration effect on the resin was conducted. The removal efficiency and rate of removal are shown on the breakthrough curves and the kinetic study of the process was determined. The Thomas model was applied to follow the exchange dynamics, the results from experimental work were compared to those using Thomas model, it is shown that the calculated breakthrough curves agreed well with the measured ones. The metal level in the treated wastewater was examined using the atomic absorption spectrophotometer to show that the Ni 2+ concentration complies with the standard environmental regulations limits.

Effectiveness of water quality index for monitoring Malaysian river water quality

Abstract: The Skudai River has experienced a general decline in water quality over the last several years due to agricultural practices, economic development, and other human activities in the river catchment. The spatial trend of water quality index (WQI) and its sub-indexes are important for determining the locations of major pollutant sources that contribute to water quality depletion in the Skudai and its tributaries. In this study, we have developed WQI for eight sections of the Skudai watershed. Ammonia-nitrogen (NH3-N) was identified as a major pollutant downstream from the Skudai, with the lowest WQI index (i.e. 38). WQI for the Skudai (natural) was 94, i.e., Class I (very clean) category of river water quality. The Senai River has WQI value of 85 and Class II category (slightly polluted). However, the Kempas River, which was in suburban parts of the Skudai watershed, had WQI of 53 (Class III, polluted). The Melana and Danga rivers were also polluted rivers with WQI of 69 and 57, respectively, in Class III (polluted). Overall water quality in the Skudai and its tributaries was downstream of the river. The study also assessed water quality of the Skudai and its tributaries from other water quality parameters such as conductivity, turbidity, temperature, total dissolved solids, total phosphorous, and nitrogen, which were not part of the WQI formula developed by the Department of the Environment (DOE), Malaysia. The study found that Department of Education (DOE) formula for WQI was not effective in water quality assessment as many important parameters such as nutrients, heavy metals, and fecal coliform (or E. Coli) were missing in the WQI formula.