The Effect of surfactant sodium lauryl sulfate in the adsorption of melanoidin solution.

• Main Authors: De Jesus, Angelo J., Mercado, Mary Clare M., Olegario, Jonesday P.
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 2000
• Subjects: Surface active agents—Physiological effect; Other Chemical Engineering
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_bachelors/10305
• Institution: De La Salle University

The effect of the surfactant, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS), as an aid in the adsorption of melanoidin solution has been studied. Surfactant enhanced activated carbon was used to remove the melanoidins, brown colored substances present in wastewater from sugar and fermentation industries. Different dosages of SLS were added to a prepared melanoidin solution to evaluate the adsorption performance of the activated carbon. The amount adsorbed was determined from the initial and final absorbance using a Visible Region Spectrophotometer and a Colorimeter. The extent of percent reduction in absorbance was plotted versus the amount of SLS and the amount of activated carbon used. Eventhough, a marked change on the color of the wastewater (from brown to light brown) was observed, SLS gave no significant effect in aiding the adsorption capabilities of the activated carbon. The activated carbon was effective in changing the color of wastewater with the adsorption of melanoidins. The results also showed that the SLS affects the absorbance of the melanoidin in the solution. It can either increase or decrease the absorbance depending on its concentration. In the present study, it was observed that at a concentration of 0.00733 mg SLS/ml of solution, the absorbance of the melanoidin decreases. It was also observed that the amount of SLS that could be added to the solution has a limiting value. This limiting value is between 0.01467 and 0.022 mg SLS/ ml of solution.