Adsorption of Acetic Acid, Cadmium ions, Lead ions and Iodine Using Activated Carbon from Waste Wood and Rice Husks

To Goodhead,Kk Dagde

doi:10.4314/jasem.v15i2.68535

Abstract

This paper presents the performance evaluation of locally prepared activated carbon from rice husk and saw dust. The raw materials were carbonized at different temperatures (600-800oC) using sodiumhydroxide (NaOH) as the activating agent. The study includes moisture content determination of the raw materials used in the activation and carbonization processes. The effects of variations in carbonizationtemperature and concentration of activating agent on various performance indices for good quality absorbent were investigated. The percentage yield of the activated carbon from the raw materials as well as iodinenumber and adsorption of heavy metals from aqueous solutions were also determined. The experimental data which make a comparative assessment of activated carbon obtained from rice husk and saw dust were also presented. Preliminary examination of the raw materials showed that rice husk and saw dust had a moisture content of 14.6% and 5.8% respectively. Increase in carbonization temperature decreases yield of the active carbon. The highest yield of about 48% was obtained from rice husk at 600oC, with moisture content of 26%. The rice husk at 800oC gave a yield of 47.2% with moisture content of 26.5%. Whilst the yield of the saw dust was 44% at 600oC and 40% at 800oC with moisture content of 17% and 19% respectively. A detailed study of mass transfer processes indicated that activated carbon from these materials show good performance.

Highlights

With the situation of the Nigerian economy and the population increase, the need has come for self sufficiency to achieve a stable and comfortable economy
Taking into account the harmful effect of these heavy metals, it was considered of great extent to study the adsorption process of these metals from aqueous solution using locally prepared activated carbon which can be produced from wide variety of these carbon rich raw materials
Despite the work done so far, there still remains according to recent reports a dearth of rigorous and comprehensive chemical engineering information published on the process development of activated carbon sourced from these raw materials palm kernel shells, animal bones, rice husks and saw dust (Balci and Dogu, 1992)

Summary

Introduction

With the situation of the Nigerian economy and the population increase, the need has come for self sufficiency to achieve a stable and comfortable economy. A research on our waste materials can yield useful adsorbents, which have numerous uses and applications in our various industries land application of these materials may improve crop production This practice can degrade the environment with the introduction of potentially harmful substances such as traces of heavy metals into the soil. Over the decades there has been rapid population expansion and technological development in Nigeria This leads to a more extensive and intensive use of available supplies of water, and to the pollution and degradation of the quality of these waters. Pollution is inevitable because domestic and industrial activities generate wastes, which are discharged into the environment These wastes or effluent might contain non-biodegradable matter, toxic heavy metals, organic matter and might give off some offensive odour (Webber and Vernana, 1967, Eckenfelder, 2000, Tchobanoglous et’ al., 2003.). Despite the work done so far, there still remains according to recent reports a dearth of rigorous and comprehensive chemical engineering information published on the process development of activated carbon sourced from these raw materials palm kernel shells, animal bones, rice husks and saw dust (Balci and Dogu, 1992)

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