| Peer-Reviewed

Conversion of Corn Cobs Waste into Activated Carbons for Adsorption of Heavy Metals from Minerals Processing Wastewater

Received: 7 June 2016     Accepted: 15 June 2016     Published: 29 June 2016
Views:       Downloads:
Abstract

This study investigated adsorption of Lead (Pb2+), Copper (Cu2+) and Cadmium (Cd2+) from minerals processing wastewater using activated carbons prepared from waste corn cobs. The activated carbons were prepared by carbonisation of the waste at 900°C to obtain carbonised corn cobs. Samples of the carbonised material were activated at 900°C for various durations using steam as an activating agent. The derived activated carbons were contacted with the wastewater containing heavy metals to assess their heavy metal removal abilities. From the results, up to 99.9%, 99.8 and 99.7% adsorption were attained for Pb2+, Cu2+ and Cd2+ respectively. This reduced the concentrations of Pb2+, Cu2+ and Cd2+ from 1.56 mg/L, 1.87 mg/L and 0.69 mg/L, respectively, to <0.002 mg/L for each metal ion. The results demonstrate that the derived activated carbons have the capacity to significantly reduce heavy metal concentrations to levels below the World Health Organisation (WHO) standards for safe drinking water.

Published in International Journal of Environmental Protection and Policy (Volume 4, Issue 4)
DOI 10.11648/j.ijepp.20160404.11
Page(s) 98-103
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2016. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Corn Cob, Activated Carbon, Heavy Metal, Wastewater and Adsorption

References
[1] M. L. Morris, R. Tripp and A. A. Dankyi, “Adoption and Impacts of Improved Corn Production Technology: A Case Study of the Ghana Grains Development Project”, Economics Program Mexico, DF, CIMMYT, 1999, pp. 99-100.
[2] J. Kaźmierczak, P. Nowicki and R. Pietrzak, “Sorption properties of activated carbons obtained from corn cobs by chemical and physical activation”, Adsorption, 2013, 19: 273-281.
[3] M. A. Yahya, Z. Al-Qodah and C. W. Zanariah Ngah, “Agricultural bio-waste materials as potential sustainable precursors used for activated carbon production: A review”, Ren. and Sustain. Energy Reviews, 2015, 46: 218–235.
[4] Z. Hu and M. P. Srinivasan, “Preparation of High-Surface-Area Activated Carbons from Coconut Shell”, Microporous and Mesoporous Materials, 1999, 27: 11-18.
[5] W. M. Daud, W. S. Ali and M. Z. Suleiman, “The Effects of Carbonization Temperature on Pore Development in Palm-Shell-Based Activated Carbon”, Carbon, 2000, 41: 1925-1932.
[6] J. Hayashi, A. Kazehaya, K. Muroyama and A. P. Watkinson, “Preparation of Activated Carbon from Lignin by Chemical Activation”, Carbon, 1999, 38: 1873-1878.
[7] S. D. Probert, K. Kerr and J, Brown, “Harnessing energy from domestic, municipal and industrial refuse”, Applied Energy, 1987, 27: 89-168.
[8] A. Bernard, “Cadmium and its adverse effects on human health”, Indian J. Med. Res., 2008, 128: 557-64.
[9] E. Bernard, A. Jimoh and J. O. Odigure, “Heavy Metals Removal from Industrial Wastewater by Activated Carbon Prepared from Coconut Shell”, Research Journal of Chemical Sciences, 2013, 3: 3-9.
[10] World Health Organization, “Heavy metals and PAH compounds from municipal incinerators”, Environmental Health Series, No. 32, World Health Organization, Copenhagen, 1990.
[11] S. Hou, L. Yuan, P. Jin, B. Ding, et al., “A clinical study of the effects of lead poisoning on the intelligence and neurobehavioral abilities of children”, Theoretical Biology & Medical Modelling, 2013, 10: 10-13.
[12] P. T. Williams, “Waste Treatment and Disposal”, 2nd Edition. John Wiley & Sons Ltd, Chichester, UK, 2005, 380 pp.
[13] C. E. Gimba, G. I. Ndukwe, E. D. Paul et al., “Heavy Metals (Cd, Cu, Fe, Mn and Zn) Assessment of Groundwater in Kaltungo LGA, Gombe State, Nigeria”, International Journal of Science and Technology, 2015, 4: 44-49.
[14] M. A. Momodu and C. A. Anyankora, “Heavy Metal Contamination of Ground Water”, Journal of Environmental and Earth Science, 2010, 2: 39-43.
[15] W. K. Buah, J. S. Y. Kuma and P. T. Williams, “Activated Carbon Prepared in a Novel Gas Fired Static Bed Pyrolysis-Gasification/Activation Reactor for Gold Di-Cyanide Adsorption”, in 3rd UMaT Biennial International Mining and Mineral Conference, 2014, pp. 243-250.
[16] S. J. Gregg and K. S. W. Sing, “Adsorption, Surface Area and Porosity”, Academic Press, London, 1982.
[17] M. M. Dubinin, and L. V. Radushkevitch, 1947 Proc. Acad. Sci. USSR, 55: 331.
[18] A. Ismail, D. B. Adie, I. A. Oke et al., “Adsorption kinetics of cadmium ions onto powdered corn cobs”, The Canadian Journal of Chemical Engineering, 2009, 87: 896-909.
[19] H. Teng and S. C. Wang, “Preparation of porous carbon from phenol-formaldehyde resins with chemical and physical activation”, Carbon, 2000, 38: 817-824.
[20] A. M. Cunliffe and P. T. Williams, “Influence of Process Conditions on the rate of Activation of Chars Derived from Pyrolysis of Used Tires”, Energy and Fuel, 1999 13: 166–175.
[21] A. C. Arampatzidou and E. A. Deliyanni, “Comparison of activation media and pyrolysis temperature for activated carbons development by pyrolysis of potato peels for effective adsorption of endocrine disruptor bisphenol, A. Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, 2016, 466: 101-112.
[22] A. B. Bogeat, M. Alexandre-Franco, C. Fernández-González et al., “Temperature dependence of the electrical conductivity of activated carbons prepared from vine shoots by physical and chemical activation methods”, Microporous and Mesoporous Materials, 2015 209: 90-98.
[23] A. Martínez de Yuso, B. Rubio and M. T. Izquierdo, “Influence of activation atmosphere used in the chemical activation of almond shell on the characteristics and adsorption performance of activated carbons”, Fuel Processing Technology, 2014, 119: 74-80.
[24] M. Karnib, A. Kabbani, H. Holail and Z. Olama, “Heavy Metals Removal Using Activated Carbon, Silica and Silica Activated Carbon Composite”, Energy Procedia, 2014, 50: 113-120.
[25] S. Z. Mohammadi, H. Hamidian and Z. Moeinadini, “High surface area-activated carbon from Glycyrrhiza glabra residue by ZnCl2 activation for removal of Pb (II) and Ni (II) from water samples”, J Industrial and Engineering Chemistry, 2014, 20: 4112-4118.
Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    William Buah, Jennifer MacCarthy, Samuel Ndur. (2016). Conversion of Corn Cobs Waste into Activated Carbons for Adsorption of Heavy Metals from Minerals Processing Wastewater. International Journal of Environmental Protection and Policy, 4(4), 98-103. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijepp.20160404.11

    Copy | Download

    ACS Style

    William Buah; Jennifer MacCarthy; Samuel Ndur. Conversion of Corn Cobs Waste into Activated Carbons for Adsorption of Heavy Metals from Minerals Processing Wastewater. Int. J. Environ. Prot. Policy 2016, 4(4), 98-103. doi: 10.11648/j.ijepp.20160404.11

    Copy | Download

    AMA Style

    William Buah, Jennifer MacCarthy, Samuel Ndur. Conversion of Corn Cobs Waste into Activated Carbons for Adsorption of Heavy Metals from Minerals Processing Wastewater. Int J Environ Prot Policy. 2016;4(4):98-103. doi: 10.11648/j.ijepp.20160404.11

    Copy | Download

  • @article{10.11648/j.ijepp.20160404.11,
      author = {William Buah and Jennifer MacCarthy and Samuel Ndur},
      title = {Conversion of Corn Cobs Waste into Activated Carbons for Adsorption of Heavy Metals from Minerals Processing Wastewater},
      journal = {International Journal of Environmental Protection and Policy},
      volume = {4},
      number = {4},
      pages = {98-103},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ijepp.20160404.11},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijepp.20160404.11},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijepp.20160404.11},
      abstract = {This study investigated adsorption of Lead (Pb2+), Copper (Cu2+) and Cadmium (Cd2+) from minerals processing wastewater using activated carbons prepared from waste corn cobs. The activated carbons were prepared by carbonisation of the waste at 900°C to obtain carbonised corn cobs. Samples of the carbonised material were activated at 900°C for various durations using steam as an activating agent. The derived activated carbons were contacted with the wastewater containing heavy metals to assess their heavy metal removal abilities. From the results, up to 99.9%, 99.8 and 99.7% adsorption were attained for Pb2+, Cu2+ and Cd2+ respectively. This reduced the concentrations of Pb2+, Cu2+ and Cd2+ from 1.56 mg/L, 1.87 mg/L and 0.69 mg/L, respectively, to <0.002 mg/L for each metal ion. The results demonstrate that the derived activated carbons have the capacity to significantly reduce heavy metal concentrations to levels below the World Health Organisation (WHO) standards for safe drinking water.},
     year = {2016}
    }
    

    Copy | Download

  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Conversion of Corn Cobs Waste into Activated Carbons for Adsorption of Heavy Metals from Minerals Processing Wastewater
    AU  - William Buah
    AU  - Jennifer MacCarthy
    AU  - Samuel Ndur
    Y1  - 2016/06/29
    PY  - 2016
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijepp.20160404.11
    DO  - 10.11648/j.ijepp.20160404.11
    T2  - International Journal of Environmental Protection and Policy
    JF  - International Journal of Environmental Protection and Policy
    JO  - International Journal of Environmental Protection and Policy
    SP  - 98
    EP  - 103
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2330-7536
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijepp.20160404.11
    AB  - This study investigated adsorption of Lead (Pb2+), Copper (Cu2+) and Cadmium (Cd2+) from minerals processing wastewater using activated carbons prepared from waste corn cobs. The activated carbons were prepared by carbonisation of the waste at 900°C to obtain carbonised corn cobs. Samples of the carbonised material were activated at 900°C for various durations using steam as an activating agent. The derived activated carbons were contacted with the wastewater containing heavy metals to assess their heavy metal removal abilities. From the results, up to 99.9%, 99.8 and 99.7% adsorption were attained for Pb2+, Cu2+ and Cd2+ respectively. This reduced the concentrations of Pb2+, Cu2+ and Cd2+ from 1.56 mg/L, 1.87 mg/L and 0.69 mg/L, respectively, to <0.002 mg/L for each metal ion. The results demonstrate that the derived activated carbons have the capacity to significantly reduce heavy metal concentrations to levels below the World Health Organisation (WHO) standards for safe drinking water.
    VL  - 4
    IS  - 4
    ER  - 

    Copy | Download

Author Information
  • Minerals Engineering Department, University of Mines and Technology, Tarkwa, Ghana

  • Environmental and Safety Engineering Department, University of Mines and Technology, Tarkwa, Ghana

  • Environmental and Safety Engineering Department, University of Mines and Technology, Tarkwa, Ghana

  • Sections