Removal of Anions, Heavy Metals, Organics and Dyes from Water by Adsorption onto a New Activated Carbon from Jatropha Husk, an Agro-Industrial Solid Waste

Abstract

Jatropha curcas is a multipurpose non-edible oil yielding perennial shrub and it is a drought tolerant plant. Its seeds are used to produce bio-diesel. Jatropha husk, an agricultural solid waste, generated from bio-diesel industries, was used as a starting material to produce activated carbon. Using jatropha husk activated carbon (JHC), the feasibility of removal of toxic anions, dyes, heavy metals and organic compounds from water was investigated. Sorption of inorganic anions such as nitrate, selenite, chromate, vanadate and phosphate and heavy metal such as nickel(II) has been studied. Removal of organics such as bisphenol, 2-chlorophenol also have been investigated. Adsorption of acid dyes such as acid brilliant blue, acid violet, basic dyes such as methylene blue, direct dyes such as direct red-12B, congo red, reactive dye like procion red were investigated to assess the possible use of the adsorbent. Results show that jatropha husk activated carbon can be used as an adsorbent for the removal of toxic pollutants from water.