ABSTRACT
The studies on
characterization of different type of adsorbent such as coconut shell activated
carbon, activated carbon from groundnut and activated carbon from corncob has
been performed. The characterization of the adsorbents includes estimation of
various parameters such as bulk density, BET surface area, SEM, porosity, pH,
iodine number and methylene blue number. Surface area of adsorbents was found
by BET surface area analyzer. The pore structure of activated carbon was
observed through SEM analysis. The porosity and pore volume was estimated using
mercury porosimeter. The adsorbent that showed best surface properties was used
for adsorption of methylene blue dye. Adsorption capacity of the activated
carbon was determined to access its maximum potential for methylene blue
removal.
CHAPTER
ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1
BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
The increase in
population has boosted the growth of different industries leading to discharge
of pollutants into the water bodies. Among those industries textile, food,
cosmetic, paper industries lead to discharge of dye that needs immediate
attention. Colour in the water results from various organic chemicals that prevent
the sunlight to penetrate affecting the aquatic system. Aquatic organisms and
plants are affected due to the release of toxic organic chemicals (Gupta,
2012).
Various methods to
address this issue has been published by many researchers such as sedimentation
with clarification, coagulation and flocculation, chemical oxidation,
filtration using membranes, adsorption, biodegradation etc. For example among
these adsorption is a well established technology to deal with dye removal.
Methylene blue dye has been used in most of the industries and its removal is a
matter of great concern. Low cost adsorbents such as coir pith, sawdust, fruit
shell, banana pith, pea nut hull, wheat barn etc has been employed (Chandran et
al, 2012). However the use of carbon produced form some agricultural residuals
as an adsorbent is greatly sorted as a result of its adsorption capacity
(Yadav, 2013).
Carbon produced from
agricultural residuals such as corncob, ground shell, coconut etc is a form of
carbon processed to have small, low-volume pores that increase the surface area
available for adsorption or chemical reactions (Vadivelan,2011). The production
of carbon from these agricultural residuals is special type of carbonaceous
substance. They have highly crystalline form and extensively developed internal
pore structure. Due to activation, internal pore network is created which
imparts certain surface chemistries (functional groups) inside each particle.
Thus carbon gets its unique characteristics leading to high surface area, porosity
and greater strength.
The adsorptivity of
the adsorbent depends on both the size of the molecule being adsorbed and the
pore size of the adsorbent. The organic material which has high carbon content
is used as the raw material for the synthesis of the carbon. There are many
cheap, easily available sources used for carbon production such as groundnut
shell, corncob, coconut shell wheat husk, straw, palm fiber, rubber wood saw
dust, and palm fiber etc. carbon is used in the abatement of hazardous contaminants,
treatment of municipal and industrial waste water, as catalyst or catalyst
support in medicine, and the recovery of valuable metals (Vadivelan and Kumar,
2010).
Thus the aim of this
research is to investigate and show comparison of carbon produced from corncob,
groundnut shell and coconut shell.
1.2
AIM AND OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
This work tends to
study the comparison of carbon production from agricultural residuals such as
corncob, groundnut shell and coconut shell. Finding the best among them.
Therefore, the specific objectives are as follows;
1. To examine the
characterization of carbon produced from corncob, groundnut shell and coconut
shell
2. Compare the
characteristics of the three; corncob, groundnut shell and coconut shell
carbon.
3. To find out the
best carbon that is produced which is the best over the other two for adsorption
process.
1.3
JUSTIFICATION OF THE STUDY
Carbon production
from concob, groundnut shell and coconut shell are processed to have small,
low-volume pores that increase the surface area available for adsorption or
chemical reactions. Carbon can be used in gas purification, decaffeination,
gold purification, metal extraction, water purification, medicine, sewage
treatment, air filters in gas masks and respirators, filters in compressed air
and many other applications. Also, carbon adsorption has numerous applications
in removing pollutants from air or water streams both in the field and in
industrial processes.
Furthermore, carbon
(charcoal) is an allowed substance used by organic farmers in both livestock
production and wine making. In livestock production it is used as a pesticide,
animal feed additive, processing aid, nonagricultural ingredient and
disinfectant. In organic winemaking, carbon is allowed for use as a processing
agent to absorb brown color pigments from white grape concentrates.
The project work is
centered on activated carbon of agricultural product using corncob, groundnut
and coconut shell. The scope of the work also covers adsorption, activated
carbon development and characteristics of activated carbon.