Quantification and Removal of Trichloromethane in Chlorinated Water Using Coconut Shell Activated Carbon

A A Okoya,O S Amuda,O E Akinola,O S Adegbaju,A B Akinyele

doi:10.4314/gjs.v61i1.1

Abstract

Commercially, available activated carbon (CAC) and coconut shell activated carbon (CSAC) were used in the adsorption of Trichloromethane (TCM) from disinfected water using the optimum conditions (concentration, dosage, pH and time) obtained. Concentrations of TCM were determined using GC-MS. Physicochemical parameters of CSAC were investigated. The CSAC gave percentage carbon yield (86.72±1.41), surface area 1200 m2/g and CHNS/O Elemental Analyzer gave elemental Carbon of 60.08% as the highest of the elements in the char. A pore structure dispersed on the CSAC surface was observed. Best conditions for CSAC were: 1.4 × 104μg/l TCM, 5.0 pH, 0.8 g absorbent within 30 minutes. The data fitted Freundlich than Langmuir model (R2 of 0.9977 and 0.9232, respectively). Percentage removal of TCM for CAC and CSAC was 98.3±1.55 and 96.7±1.27, respectively for the water sample. Results indicated that CSAC was efficient for removal of TCM present in water and could be used as alternative for CAC in water treatment.

Highlights

Increased consumption of coconut water and green coconut fruit pulp has increased the generation of coconut shells (Ayrilmis et al, 2011), which in some regions tends to become waste, generating negative social, economic and environmental impacts (Biggs et al, 2015)
The result showed a high yield of char (86.72±1.41%) and carbon content of 49.29±0.67 which shows that coconut shells are a good source for dense carbon as a result of its high lignin content (Yerima & Grema, 2018)
Coconut shell activated carbon showed a pore volume of 0.078 cm3/g and a high surface area of 1200 m2/g

Summary

Introduction

Increased consumption of coconut water and green coconut fruit pulp has increased the generation of coconut shells (Ayrilmis et al, 2011), which in some regions tends to become waste, generating negative social, economic and environmental impacts (Biggs et al, 2015). Batch adsorption experiment Batch adsorption experiment was carried out on the simulated Trichloromethane polluted water using coconut shell activated carbon as adsorbent and parameters including Trichloromethane concentration, pH, adsorbent dosage and contact time were investigated.

Results

Conclusion