Agricultural waste material Cotton Stack Activated Carbon as a suitable adsorbent for removing nickel (Ni++) ions, a heavy metal, from aqueous solutions: Synthesis, Characterization, and Isotherm Study.

Abstract

Activated carbon (AC) produced from the cotton stack with activating zinc chloride (CSZn) in muffle fernane under nitrogen atmosphere in 600°C. The chemical activation has increased its surface area. It shows a strong capacity of adsorption for the removal of nickel from an aqueous solution due to its enhanced porous structure and higher pHpzc value. The ability was studied using a variety of variables, such as varying the pH, concentration, temp, time of contact, and dose of adsorbent, and optimal conditions were found at pH 8, 10 mgL-1,90 min, 40°C and 200mg respectively. The removal of 75% of the Ni++ ion at a starting concentration of adsorbent at 100 mg was observed. The experimental adsorption results suit the Langmuir isotherm in the isotherm investigations fairly well. The efficient and affordable generation of activated carbon utilizing cotton stack agro-waste may be the solution for the issue of disposing of agricultural trash.