The use of human hair waste as a phenol biosorbent

Human hair waste was tested as an adsorbent for the removal of phenol from aqueous solutions. Batch experiments were carried out to determine the effects of contact time, adsorbent concentration, initial pH, temperature and salt addition on this adsorption process. It was found that the uptake of phenol was virtually complete after 1 h. Up to 92% phenol removal was achieved at an initial phenol concentration of 60 ppm. The initial pH of the solution had a strong effect on the uptake of phenol and increasing the measurement temperature also increased the uptake. The presence of NaCl salt in the adsorption system had only a marginal effect on phenol adsorption.