Abstract: Cassava peels and bamboo waste materials discarded from construction are two sources of waste that could constitute serious menace where they exist in large quantities and inadequately handled. The study examined the physicochemical characteristics of activated carbon materials derived from cassava peels and bamboo waste materials discarded from construction site. Both materials were subjected to carbonization and chemical activation using zinc chloride. Results show that the chemical activation of the materials had a more effect on pore formation in cassava peels than in bamboo materials. Bamboo material exhibited a reverse trend for zinc and sulphate ion decontamination efficiencies as the value of zinc chloride impregnation varied unlike cassava peel carbon biomass which exhibited a more consistent result of decontamination efficiency for the seven contaminants tested. Although waste bamboo biomass exhibited higher adsorption intensity as indicated by values of decontamination for most of the contaminants tested, the cassava peel carbon biomass showed a more balanced adsorption level.
Abstract: The study investigated efficiency cassava peel carbon
and Zinc Chloride activated cassava peel carbon at 1:3, 2:3 and 1:1
activation levels in the removal of nitrates from oxidized cassava
processing wastewater. Results showed that the CPC and CPAC were
effective in adsorption of nitrates. A summary of results from the
study revealed that CPAC at 1:3 exhibited the highest initial
decontamination (69.5% after 2 hrs) while CPAC at 1:1 activation
ratio showed a slower initial decontamination rate. The CPC &
CPAC exhibited Langmuir Rα values of 0.15, 0.11, 0.09, and 0.07 for
the 0:1, 1:3, 2:3 and 1:1 confirming its suitability as adsorption
material.