Comparative Adsorption of Lead and Cadmium from Wastewater onto Sugarcane Bagasse and Rice Husk Activated Carbons
Authors: Adamu AD
DOI Info: N/A
ABSTRACT
The discharge of various agricultural wastes into the environment causes environmental pollution that requires attention. Sugarcane bagasse (SBAC) and rice husk (RSAC) activated carbons were produced by thermal and chemical methods. The sugarcane bagasse and rice husk were both carbonized at temperatures of 300 and 350 oC at heating rate of 10 oC/min for 1 hour, after which chemical activation was carried out with 1M tetraoxophosphate (V) acid (H3PO4) at a mixing ratio of 2:1 (2 ml of H3PO4 to 1 g of SBAC and RSAC). In addition, batch adsorption experiment was carried out and the result showed that the adsorption of lead (Pb) onto SBAC and RSAC 300 recorded mean adsorption capacities and removal efficiencies of 15.2730 mg/g and 99.293% and 15.1828 mg/g and 98.656%, respectively. The result implied that the SBAC recorded higher adsorption capacity and removal efficiency than RSAC, which were statistically significant at 95% confidence level. Similarly, the batch adsorption of cadmium (Cd) onto SBAC and RSAC 300 showed that the mean adsorption capacity and removal efficiency of 6.3873 mg/g and 99.985% and 6.3853 mg/g and 99.943%, respectively, which implied that SBAC recorded higher adsorption capacity and removal efficiency than RSAC which was statistically at 95% confidence level but that of the RSAC was not statistically significant. It was therefore concluded that both the SBAC and RSAC were good adsorbent for the adsorptions of Pb and Cd from wastewater but the SBAC was more efficient than RSAC.
Affiliations: Department of Water Resources and Environmental Engineering, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria.
Keywords: Agricultural Wastes, Activated Carbon, Rice Husk, Sugarcane Bagasse, Adsorption
Published date: 2019/06/30
