ADSORPTION OF BOVINE SERUM-ALBUMIN FROM SALT SOLUTION ONTO ACTIVATED CARBON

One of the wastewaters from tanning industry (soak liquor) contains 0. 4 g/l of dissolved protein. During coagulation and flocculation 41 % o f protein was removed. A suggestion has been made to remove the residu al protein by adsorption technique. The optimum conditions for adsorpt ion of Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA) on rice bran based activated carbon (RBAC) have been determined. Maximum adsorption of BSA took place at p H 7.0. Ionic strength was found to have influence on the adsorption be haviour. Adsorption capacity of BSA onto charcoal surface decreased wi th increase in temperature. Enthalpy of adsorption in all cases was fo und to be within -19 to -57 kJ/mole, indicating exothermic nature of t he process. Applicability of adsorption technique to the removal of di ssolved protein from soak water has been studied. The maximum removal of protein occurred at pH 7.0 and the ratio of protein removed to weig ht of adsorbent was 3.22 x 10(-3) g/g.