Rapid removal of chromium from aqueous solution using novel prawn shell activated carbon

The rapid removal of chromium ions from aqueous solutions using prawn shell activated carbon (PSAC) was established in the present study. Response surface methodology (RSM) was used to optimize the process variables for the maximum chromium removal. The optimization result shows that 0.04 g of PSAC was sufficient to remove 100.6 mg L−1 of chromium in 31.4 min time period. Adsorption of chromium obeyed both Freundlich and Langmuir adsorption isotherms and followed second-order kinetic reaction. This results suggest that the PSAC as a good candidate for the rapid removal of chromium from tannery effluent.

► Activated carbon with rapid adsorption capacity was prepared from prawn shell waste.
► Maximum removal of chromium was achieved with minimum time using PSAC.
► PSAC is an alternate source for removal of chromium from tannery effluents.