Journal of Environmental Biology

Preparation and charactersiation of low cost adsorbent from groundnut foliage by chemical activation

D. Vidhya Lakshmi, L. Anitha Jegadeeshwari, N. Arunodhaya, E. Vasanth Kumar and N. Nagendra Gandhi*

Department of Chemical Engineering, AC Tech Campus, Anna University, Chennai-600 025, India

*Corresponding Author E-mail: nagendragandhi.n@gmail.com

Key words

Activated carbon

Agro based waste

Groundnut foliage

Isotherms

Low cost adsorbent

Publication Data

Paper received : 02.02.2017

Revised received : 24.06.2017

Re-revised received : 02.09.2017

Accepted : 13.09.2017

Abstract

Aim: Effective treatment and management of wastewater and solid waste are the major challenges growing at an alarming rate in today's world. The aim of the present study was to find the feasibility of utilizing agro-based waste (groundnut foliage) as a low cost adsorbent for dye laden waste water treatment.    

Methodology: Groundnut foliage was collected from different villages in Villupuram district, Tamil nadu and was converted into an activated carbon by chemical activation method. Activation was done with different activating conditions (activating agents, impregnation ratio and activation temperature). Methylene blue number and Iodine number for prepared activated carbon was determined using standard procedure. The optimized activation condition for groundnut foliage activated carbon was selected based on the yield (%), Methylene blue number and Iodine number. Batch adsorption studies were done using methylene blue as adsorbate to find the effects of adsorption parameters. Adsorption isotherm models like Langmuir and Freundlich were used to analyse the suitability of equilibrium data.

Results: Activated carbon was prepared using concentrated H3PO4 as activating agent with ratio of 1:2 at 600ºC has better percentage of yield (> 45%), Methylene blue value (27 mg g^-1) and Iodine value (1143 mg g^-1) when compared with activated carbon prepared using ZnCl2 and KOH as activating agent. For 100 mg l^-1 of methylene blue dye concentration and at 6 pH in 30^oC, about 89% of methylene blue dye removal was adsorbed with 0.25 g of groundnut foliage activated carbon. Adsorption followed the Langmuir model.           

Interpretation: Low cost adsorbent prepared using groundnut foliage (agro-based waste) has desired properties of adsorbent and can be effectively used in dye laden waste water treatment.

Copyright © 2018 Triveni Enterprises. All rights reserved. No part of the Journal can be reproduced in any form without prior permission. Responsibility regarding the authenticity of the data, and the acceptability of the conclusions enforced or derived, rest completely with the author(s).