Research Article

Sustainable color, sulfate and phosphate removal from vegetable oil refinery wastewater using snail shell waste extracted-chitin-chitosan mixed with alum: Kinetics, thermodynamics, equilibrium and toxicity assessment of used adsorbents on the growth performance of maize

Volume: 8 Number: 3 September 30, 2025

Sustainable color, sulfate and phosphate removal from vegetable oil refinery wastewater using snail shell waste extracted-chitin-chitosan mixed with alum: Kinetics, thermodynamics, equilibrium and toxicity assessment of used adsorbents on the growth performance of maize

Abstract

Direct discharged of vegetable oil refinery wastewater without treatment can cause severe environmental pollution, corrosion and clogging of pipes. This work is aimed at investigating the use of snail shell extracted chitin and chitosan fortified with alum in removing color, sulfate and phosphate from vegetable oil refinery wastewater, monitoring the pH, and testing the toxicity of the used materials on the growth performance of maize. Chitin and chitosan with good adsorbent properties were produced from snail shells. The spent chitin/alum and chitosan/alum were recycled and their toxicities on the growth performance of maize tested. The studied wastewater had pH of 10.40, sulfate and phosphate concentrations of 3100 and 1561.3 mg/L respectively. Maximum removal capacities for sulfate and phosphate of 842.54 and 728.07 mg/g were respectively obtained for chitin, and respectively 934.97 and 728.00 mg/L for chitosan against color removal of 0.96 and 0.95 Absorbance/g respectively on chitin and chitosan. Nearly 100% of color and phosphate were removed by chitin and chitosan systems for all tested parameters against a maximum of 84% for sulfate by chitosan at pH 10 and 80% for chitin at pH 4. From Pseudo-second order kinetics, phosphate and sulfate removal were faster on chitin than chitosan while color removal was faster on chitosan than chitin. Recycled adsorbents enhanced maize germination and survival than the control where they were absent. The use of chitin and chitosan fortified with appropriate amount of alum produces treated vegetable oil refinery effluent with acceptable characteristic for discharge and other uses in a low cost process requiring no electricity, and the recycled alum fortified materials are not toxic to plant growth, ensuring clean environment and generation of more revenue.

Keywords

References

  1. T. Ahmada, T. Belwala, L. Lia, S. Ramola, R.M. Aadil, Abdullaha, Y. Yanxun Xua, L. Luo Zisheng, “Utilization of wastewater from edible oil industry, turning waste into valuable products: A review,” Trends in Food Science & Technology, Vol. 99, pp. 21–33, 2020.
  2. T. Turna, Y.S. Yildiz, “Treatment of vegetable oil industry wastewaters with coagulation-flocculation methods, DUJE (Dicle University Journal of Engineering), Vol. 15, pp. 533-540, 2024.
  3. O. Dkhissi, A. El Hakmaoui, S. Souabi, M. Chatoui, A. Jada, M. Akssira, “Treatment of vegetable oil refinery wastewater by coagulation-flocculation process using the cactus as a bio-flocculant,” Journal of Materials and Environmental Science, Vol. 99, pp. 18-25, 2018.
  4. D. Kaya, Y. Hung, Treatment of vegetable oil refining wastes, Kaya, D, and Hung, YT (2020). “Treatment of vegetable oil refining wastes. In: "Evolutionary Progress in Science,” Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM)", Wang, Lawrence K. and Tsao, Hungping (editors). Volume 2, Number 2, February 2020; 80 pages. Lenox Institute Press, Newtonville, NY, 12128-0405, USA. No. STEAM-VOL2-NUM2-FEB2020; ISBN 978-0-9890870-3-2. US Department of Commerce, National Technical Information Service, 5301 Shawnee Road, Alexandria, VA 22312, USA, 2020.
  5. D. Dohare, R. Meshram, “Biological treatment of edible oil refinery wastewater using activated sludge Process and Sequencing Batch Reactors - A Review,” Journal of Engineering Sciences & Research Technology, Vol. 3(12), pp. 251-260, 2014.
  6. S. Sharma, A.K. Sharma, S. Verma, H.S. Dodiya, “Treatment of edible oil refinery waste water by using chemical and biological process,” Journal of Engineering Sciences & Research Technology, 3(9), pp. 115-120, 2014
  7. M.G. Devi, Z.S. Shinoon Al-Hashmi, G.C. Sekhar, “Treatment of vegetable oil mill effluent using crab shell chitosan as adsorbent,” International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology, Vol. 9, pp. 713–718, 2012.
  8. A.M.A. Pintor, A.G. Martins, R.S. Souza, V.J.P. Vilar, C.M.S. Botelho, R.A.R. Boaventura, “Treatment of vegetable oil refinery wastewater by sorption of oil and grease onto regranulated cork - A study in batch and continuous mode,” Chemical Engineering Journal, 2015.

Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Wastewater Treatment Processes, Separation Processes, Environmental and Sustainable Processes

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

September 30, 2025

Submission Date

October 14, 2024

Acceptance Date

December 9, 2024

Published in Issue

Year 2025 Volume: 8 Number: 3

APA
Tsamo, C., & Alexis, G. (2025). Sustainable color, sulfate and phosphate removal from vegetable oil refinery wastewater using snail shell waste extracted-chitin-chitosan mixed with alum: Kinetics, thermodynamics, equilibrium and toxicity assessment of used adsorbents on the growth performance of maize. Environmental Research and Technology, 8(3), 699-723. https://doi.org/10.35208/ert.1566585
AMA
1.Tsamo C, Alexis G. Sustainable color, sulfate and phosphate removal from vegetable oil refinery wastewater using snail shell waste extracted-chitin-chitosan mixed with alum: Kinetics, thermodynamics, equilibrium and toxicity assessment of used adsorbents on the growth performance of maize. ERT. 2025;8(3):699-723. doi:10.35208/ert.1566585
Chicago
Tsamo, Cornelius, and Goufdour Alexis. 2025. “Sustainable Color, Sulfate and Phosphate Removal from Vegetable Oil Refinery Wastewater Using Snail Shell Waste Extracted-Chitin-Chitosan Mixed With Alum: Kinetics, Thermodynamics, Equilibrium and Toxicity Assessment of Used Adsorbents on the Growth Performance of Maize”. Environmental Research and Technology 8 (3): 699-723. https://doi.org/10.35208/ert.1566585.
EndNote
Tsamo C, Alexis G (September 1, 2025) Sustainable color, sulfate and phosphate removal from vegetable oil refinery wastewater using snail shell waste extracted-chitin-chitosan mixed with alum: Kinetics, thermodynamics, equilibrium and toxicity assessment of used adsorbents on the growth performance of maize. Environmental Research and Technology 8 3 699–723.
IEEE
[1]C. Tsamo and G. Alexis, “Sustainable color, sulfate and phosphate removal from vegetable oil refinery wastewater using snail shell waste extracted-chitin-chitosan mixed with alum: Kinetics, thermodynamics, equilibrium and toxicity assessment of used adsorbents on the growth performance of maize”, ERT, vol. 8, no. 3, pp. 699–723, Sept. 2025, doi: 10.35208/ert.1566585.
ISNAD
Tsamo, Cornelius - Alexis, Goufdour. “Sustainable Color, Sulfate and Phosphate Removal from Vegetable Oil Refinery Wastewater Using Snail Shell Waste Extracted-Chitin-Chitosan Mixed With Alum: Kinetics, Thermodynamics, Equilibrium and Toxicity Assessment of Used Adsorbents on the Growth Performance of Maize”. Environmental Research and Technology 8/3 (September 1, 2025): 699-723. https://doi.org/10.35208/ert.1566585.
JAMA
1.Tsamo C, Alexis G. Sustainable color, sulfate and phosphate removal from vegetable oil refinery wastewater using snail shell waste extracted-chitin-chitosan mixed with alum: Kinetics, thermodynamics, equilibrium and toxicity assessment of used adsorbents on the growth performance of maize. ERT. 2025;8:699–723.
MLA
Tsamo, Cornelius, and Goufdour Alexis. “Sustainable Color, Sulfate and Phosphate Removal from Vegetable Oil Refinery Wastewater Using Snail Shell Waste Extracted-Chitin-Chitosan Mixed With Alum: Kinetics, Thermodynamics, Equilibrium and Toxicity Assessment of Used Adsorbents on the Growth Performance of Maize”. Environmental Research and Technology, vol. 8, no. 3, Sept. 2025, pp. 699-23, doi:10.35208/ert.1566585.
Vancouver
1.Cornelius Tsamo, Goufdour Alexis. Sustainable color, sulfate and phosphate removal from vegetable oil refinery wastewater using snail shell waste extracted-chitin-chitosan mixed with alum: Kinetics, thermodynamics, equilibrium and toxicity assessment of used adsorbents on the growth performance of maize. ERT. 2025 Sep. 1;8(3):699-723. doi:10.35208/ert.1566585