Profiting from Cooked Tea Leaves Waste in Eco-Friendly Method

Aims: The aim of this study is to investigate the applicability of cooked tea leaves waste (CTLW) to the removal of phosphorus pollutant from water using different design parameters by adsorption process.

Study Design: Environmental engineering.

Place and Duration of Study: This study was carried out in the department of environmental engineering, College of engineering, between March 2013 and November 2013

Methodology: The experimental adsorption unit composed from fixed bed column was conducted in order to test phosphorus removal from simulated synthetic aqueous solutions (SSAS). Effects of bed heights of the adsorbent media (cooked tea leaves waste), flow rates of (SSAS), solution pH, feed temperature and initial concentration values of (SSAS) on the phosphorus removal efficiency were investigated.

Results: The highest percentage removal of phosphorus from (SSAS) was 97.68%. Statistical model was achieved to find a mathematical equation connecting all parameters governing the percentage removal of phosphorus. The samples of (CTLW) remaining were applied as fertilizer for tomato harvest. The results show that the tomato was bloomed and gave greater weight crop.

Conclusion: The percentage removal of phosphorus was very sensitive to the variation of solution pH, initial concentration of (SSAS), feed temperature, feed flow rate and adsorption bed height. Finally, the use of (CTLW) is consider as eco-friendly method because in the first stage it can be used to remove of phosphorus from the water and in the second stage it can be used as a cheap fertilizer.