Application of flyash instead of activated carbon for oxalic acid removal

Abstract

Abstract Flyash, a waste product from thermal power plants, has been used as an adsorbent for the removal of oxalic acid. The adsorption process follows first‐order kinetics and the equilibrium is attained within 30 min in the concentration range studied (0.01‐0.1M). The adsorption obeys both the Freundlich and Langmuir isotherms and the constants have also been reported for flyash and activated carbon. At low concentrations, the increase in pH with flyash is comparatively more than for activated carbon. There seems to be a good scope for the use of flyash in place of activated carbon as an adsorbent for oxalic acid removal.