DOI: 10.11648/j.jeece.20261102.12 ISSN: 2637-434X

Performance Evaluation of Blended Activated Charcoal–Calcium Carbonate Adsorbent in the Treatment of Abattoir Wastewater

Eshiole Oshiobugie, Wasiu John, Ibrahim Olayinka, Sule Joseph
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The discharge of untreated abattoir wastewater poses a significant environmental and public health challenge due to its high concentrations of organic matter, suspended solids, nutrients, and other pollutants. Conventional treatment methods are often expensive and difficult to sustain in developing countries, creating the need for affordable and environmentally friendly alternatives. This study investigated the effectiveness of blended activated charcoal and calcium carbonate (AC–CaCO 3 ) as a low-cost adsorbent for the treatment of abattoir effluent. Wastewater samples were collected from the Warake Road abattoir in Auchi, Edo State, Nigeria, and treated using AC–CaCO 3 blends prepared in ratios of 1:1, 1:2 and 2:1. The treatment performance was evaluated by analysing physicochemical parameters, including pH, temperature, total suspended solids (TSS), total dissolved solids (TDS), turbidity, biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), dissolved oxygen (DO), nitrate, phosphate, and selected heavy metals. The results showed that the adsorption efficiency depended on the blending ratio, with the 1:2 (AC–CaCO 3 ) blend exhibiting the best overall performance. This blend achieved removal efficiencies of 81% for BOD, 83% for COD, 82% for TSS, 72% for nitrate, and 68% for phosphate. Furthermore, the pH of the treated effluent was stabilised within the range of 6.7–7.7, while dissolved oxygen increased significantly from 0.8 to 4.3 mg/L, indicating substantial improvement in water quality. The treated effluent approached the permissible limits specified by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Nigerian Industrial Standards (NIS) for wastewater discharge. The findings demonstrate that blended AC–CaCO 3 is an effective, economical, and environmentally sustainable adsorbent for the treatment of abattoir wastewater and offers a promising solution for improving wastewater management in resource-constrained settings.

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