Adsorption of Acetic Acid, Cadmium ions, Lead ions and Iodine Using Activated Carbon from Waste Wood and Rice Husks

Abstract

This paper presents the performance evaluation of locally prepared\nactivated carbon from rice husk and saw dust. The raw materials were\ncarbonized at different temperatures (600-800°C) using sodium\nhydroxide (NaOH) as the activating agent. The study includes moisture\ncontent determination of the raw materials used in the activation and\ncarbonization processes. The effects of variations in carbonization\ntemperature and concentration of activating agent on various\nperformance indices for good quality absorbent were investigated. The\npercentage yield of the activated carbon from the raw materials as well\nas iodine number and adsorption of heavy metals from aqueous solutions\nwere also determined. The experimental data which make a comparative\nassessment of activated carbon obtained from rice husk and saw dust\nwere also presented. Preliminary examination of the raw materials\nshowed that rice husk and saw dust had a moisture content of 14.6% and\n5.8% respectively. Increase in carbonization temperature decreases\nyield of the active carbon. The highest yield of about 48% was obtained\nfrom rice husk at 600°C, with moisture content of 26%. The rice\nhusk at 800°C gave a yield of 47.2% with moisture content of\n26.5%. Whilst the yield of the saw dust was 44% at 600°C and 40%\nat 800°C with moisture content of 17% and 19% respectively. A\ndetailed study of mass transfer processes indicated that activated\ncarbon from these materials show good performance.