Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

CADMIUM (II) REMOVAL USING SUGARCANE BAGASSE DERIVED ACTIVATED CARBON (SCBA) IN ADSORPTION TREATMENT SYSTEM

Shamsul Rahman Mohamed Kutty, Ibrahim Umar Salihi, Mohamed Hasnain Isa and Usman Aminu Umar

Abstract

In this study, activated carbon was developed from sugarcane bagasse and its effectiveness in absorbing cadmium (Cd2+) metal ions from aqueous solution was examined. Sugarcane bagasse activated carbon (SCBA) was developed in a tube furnace at temperature of 900 °C, heating rate of 10 °C/min, residence time of 3 hrs and at nitrogen flow rate of 100 mL/min. Batch adsorption experiments were carried out to investigate the effects of pH, contact time and adsorbent dosage on the adsorption process. The batch adsorption test showed that extent of Cd2+ adsorption by SCBA was dependent upon pH, contact time and SCBA dosage. The optimum pH for Cd2+ adsorption was found to be pH 6.0. The rate of Cd2+ removal was high at the first 5 to 30 minutes of contact time and then decreased gradually until equilibrium removal was achieved at a contact time of 3 hrs. Contact time of 3 hrs was found to be optimum for the adsorption of Cd2+. Maximum Cd2+ removal efficiency obtained from the batch studies was 88.8 % at SCBA dosage of 10 g/L. Equilibrium adsorption data were described by Langmuir model with a coefficient of determination R2 of 0.9923. Maximum adsorption capacity according to Langmuir model was evaluated to be 19.4 mg/g. The adsorption capacity of the SCBA was compared with that of other plant-based adsorbents. SCBA is an effective adsorbent for the removal of Cd2+ from aqueous solution.