SUPPLEMENT ISSUE www.iioab.org | Rahdar et al. 2016 | IIOABJ | Vol. 7 | Suppl 2 | 536–541 | 536 KEY WORDS Phenol, Adsorption, Cumin Straw Ash, Aqueous Environments Published: 15 September 2016 ARTICLE PHENOL ADSORPTIVE BY CUMIN STRAW ASH FROM AQUEOUS ENVIRONMENTS Somayeh Rahdar 1 , Razieh Khaksefidi 2, * , Vali Alipour 3 , Mehdi Saeidi 4 , Mohammad Reza Narooie 5 , Arsalan Salimi 6 , Hamed Biglari 7 , Mohammad Mehdi Baneshi 8 , Morteza Ahamadabadi 9 1 Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Zabol University of Medical Sciences, Zabol, IRAN 2 Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Zahedan University of Medical Science, Zahedan, IRAN 3 Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Research Center for Social Determinants in Health Promotion, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, IRAN 4 Department of Environmental Health Engineering School of Health, Torbat Heydariyeh University of Medical Sciences, Torbat Heydariyeh, IRAN 5 Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Iranshahr University of Medical Sciences, Iranshahr, IRAN 6 Research Center for environmental determinants of health, Kermanshah University of medical sciences, Kermanshah, IRAN 7 Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Social Development & Health Promotion Research Center, Gonabad University of Medical Sciences, Gonabad, IRAN 8 Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Yasuj University of Medical Science, Yasuj, IRAN 9 Department of Environmental Health Engineering, Torbat jam Faculty of Medical sciences, Torbat jam, IRAN ABSTRACT Due to the increasing use of the adsorption process for the removal of environmental pollutants, selecting a suitable material as an adsorbent has been a major concern of researchers in this field from the technical and economic aspects. This study aims at identifying the possibility of using Cumin Straw Ash (CSA) for removing phenol from aqueous solutions. Cumin Straw Ash was used as an adsorbent at a rate of 2.4, 8.15 and 25 mg/l in laboratory scale in a batch system and changes of phenol concentration, pH and contact time and the adsorption process abeyance from Freundlich and Langmuir equations was investigated. All experiments were performed according to Examination of Water and Wastewater Standard Methods. Besides, Excel software was used to analyze the data and Cumin Straw Ash is highly efficient in removing phenol and the absorbed phenol is reduced by increasing the pH value and removal efficiency is directly related with the increase of adsorbent. The best adsorption efficiency was obtained with adsorbent dosage (dose) of 0.1 g/100 ml, pH 7, phenol concentration 10 mg/l and the contact time of 75 min. Moreover, phenol adsorption process on Cumin Straw Ash obeys from Freundlich isotherm more than Langmuir isotherm. Low cost of cumin straw and the use of Cumin Straw Ash in phenol removal are recommended as an alternative or an option together with other treatment methods. INTRODUCTION Phenol (C6H6O) is a cyclic hydrocarbon with a molecular weight of 94.11 g/mole and is a bisphenol or white solid in special case. Phenolic compounds are hydrocarbons that hydroxyl group has formed bonds with carbon atoms of benzene ring in their molecular structure [1]. Normally, the phenol is produced from coal tar and gasoline distillation and artificially by heating sodium sulfate benzene with aquatic soda at high pressure [2]. Contamination of water by phenol is considered as one of the most important environmental issues with high toxicity and is found in agricultural wastewaters due to use of some pesticides, industrial wastewater such as pharmaceuticals as well as paint and petrochemical industries and coal-fired power plants. Some of the main pollutants considered as phenol containing sources are chemical industrial wastewater applied in the manufacture of resins, plastics, fibers, adhesives, iron, steel, aluminum, lead and detergents. Moreover, these sources have been found in disinfectants, detergents, cigarettes and vehicles exhaust and are used in the preparation of household products, biocides and dyes [3-7]. In addition to synthetic ways, phenol goes into water resources through the natural ways and also because of the physical structure found in most chemical compounds, it can also be found in municipal wastewaters and is particularly concerning due to environmental stability, solubility in water and health problems. Very high concentrations of phenol, if ingested, inhaled or absorbed through the skin can cause death [8]. In addition to health risks, this material is important due to taste and smell. One consequence of phenolic compounds is the creation of chlorophenol compounds during chlorination of drinking water which leads to objectionable stench by consumers. Moreover, phenol risks and its derivatives can cause several health problems. Therefore, phenol has been classified as a pollutant with particular and hazardous priority [9 , 10]. World Health Organization (WHO) Guidelines for the concentration of phenols, chlorophenol and 2,3,4,6-tetrachlorophenol recommends the level of 0.1 µg/l in drinking water (0.1ppb). According to the US Environmental Protection Agency (U.S EPA), the permitted level of phenol in water resources of human communities and the water used for fish breeding are 0.3 and 2.6 mg/l respectively *Corresponding Author Email: r.khaksefidi110@gmail.com