ASSESSMENT OF ACTIVATED CARBON FROM Cocos nucifera HUSKS-CLAY COMPOSITES IN THE REMOVAL OF METALS FROM AQUEOUS-MEDIA

Abstract

Varying percentages (0.1, 0.3, 0.5, 0.7, and 0.9 g) of Kono-Boue pure clay (control) and acid activated carbonized Cocos nucifera husk clay composites (AACCHCC) respectively were assessed for their effectiveness in the removal of Cu2+, Cd2+, Pb2+ and Cr2+ from aqueous media by batch adsorption technique using AAS-analyzer. The adsorbents were characterized using Energy-dispersive X–Ray Fluorescence (EDXRF) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The adsorption parameters were determined based on optimal conditions of adsorbent dosage (0.90 g), initial adsorbate concentration (10.00 mg/L), pH (7.00), contact time of 60.00 mins (AACCHCC) and 80 mins (control) and at 300 rpm. Optimum percentage adsorptions of 98.29, 88.71, 99.47 and 60.30% respectively were obtained when the control was used as adsorbent and 99.99, 99.93, 99.80 and 86.15% respectively for the AACCHCC. EDXRF showed that AACCHCC was richer in K, Ca, and Ce than the control while SEM showed wider dispersed polycrystallites. Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms used to describe the equilibrium data showed better fits for Langmuir (a monolayer homogenous model) while the kinetic studies fitted the pseudo-second order kinetic better. The study has shown that AACCHCC is a more effective adsorbent with a shorter uptake time of 60 mins than the control.