Comparison of sorption capacity and surface area of activated carbon prepared from <i>Jatropha curcas</i> fruit pericarp and seed coat

Abstract

ABSTRACT. Activated carbons were prepared from fruit pericarp and seed coat of Jatropha curcas using KOH and NaCl as activating agents leading to the production of four samples of activated carbons JPS, JPP, JCS and JCP. The adsorption capacity based on adsorption of methylene blue was determined for each sample. A further study of adsorptive properties of the most efficient activated carbon (JPS) was made by contacting it with standard solutions of methylene blue, acetic acid and potassium permanganate. The effects of mass of active carbon used, initial concentration of the solute and the pH of the solution on adsorption performance were investigated. Ash content and percentage fixed carbon were determined for two of the activated carbons (JPS and JCS) with the highest adsorptive capacity. Equilibrium study on adsorption was carried out and the adsorption data were analyzed using the Langmuir isotherm. The results obtained indicate that activated carbons from the fruit pericarp and the seed coat of J. curcas can be used as high performance adsorbents with the fruit pericarp activated carbon showing the higher adsorption capacity. The adsorption data fitted well to the Langmuir model and adsorptive area of 824-910 m 2 /g was obtained for the activated carbon.

Removal of imidacloprid using activated carbon produced from ricinodendron heudelotii shells

“…To resolve these issues, adsorption has been widely investigated as one of the most prominent methods to remove such waste. The main material frequently employed in this technique is activated carbon which has the advantage to possess large surface area, excellent internal and external functions, large adsorption capacities and good adsorption kinetics [13][14][15][16]. The most commonly used precursors are agricultural wastes particularly coconut shell, rice bran, seed hull of the palm tree and olive stones [14,16,17].…”

Comparative Adsorption of Spiramycin on Veegum^®, Activated Charcoal and <i>Garcinia kola</i> Heckel (Guttiferea) Seed

“…This was quite unexpected because even though the rate and extent of adsorption is known to increase with solute concentration, the fraction of adsorbate removed by a particular mass of adsorbent is known to decrease with increasing solute concentration [16][17][18] and so adsorption is more efficient for dilute solutions. The explanation offered here is that the increase in the solute removal efficiency with initial concentration of solute for the three adsorbents is only possible because the initial concentrations tested are rather low in relation to the adsorption capacities of each of the adsorbents at the test temperature.…”

“…For acidic dyes, pH increase has been reported to both increase the removal efficiency [18], and to decrease it [19].…”

Fate of Chemical Activators in The Aqueous Environment: What Should We Do About It?

“…Practically, using the less harmful chemicals would contribute little implications to the environment. Some of the possible candidates are sodium chloride (Okeola et al, 2012) and potassium chloride (Wang et al, 2009). Yet, this may sound not too attractive, as their role as activator is still lack in wide literature.…”