Kinetic Studies of Wastewater Treatment from Pharmaceutical Industry, using Snail Shell Powder

The kinetics studies of the treatment of wastewater from Pharmaceutical industry, shows that the treatment fit the pseudo-second order kinetic model, as compared to the other two kinetic models (Pseudo-first order or Lagergrien kinetic and intraparticle diffusions model) studied, since the correlation coefficient (r2) values of most parameters were ≥ 0.99. Moreover, the food composition (Nitrogen free extract, protein, fibre, fat and ash content), the mineral compositions (Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu) as well as the surface area and pH were analysed for the four species of snail shell (Archatina archatia, Archtina marginata, Achatina fulica and limucularia species). In addition, the physicochemical properties (pH, temperature, alkalinity, turbidity, total solids, suspended solids, dissolved solids, dissolved oxygen, biochemical oxygen demand, chemical oxygen demand, electrical conductivity, and phosphate, Nitrate-Nitrogen, Sulphate, Pb, Cd and Hg) were analysed for wastewater from pharmaceutical industry. The data derived from the physicochemical properties were treated with three kinetic models (Pseudo first order- Lagergrien, Pseudo second order and intraparticle diffusion). From the kinetic models, the results show that for the wastewater from pharmaceutical industry, the correlation coefficient (r2) of the pseudo-second order was 0.999, indicating that the treatment fit the pseudo-second order kinetics.