HEAVY METAL ADSORPTION CAPACITY OF ACTIVATED CARBON FROM ORANGE AND SOUR SOP SEEDS

Abstract

The activated carbon produced from Orange and Soursop seeds were used as adsorbents to remove Cobalt and Mercury ions from aqueous solutions. The samples were dried, powdered and activated by the use of 50% orthophosphoric acid by chemical activation method. Moisture content, ash content and percentage yield were characterized and the effects of initial ion concentration and time were evaluated using Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS). The results of characterization showed that soursop seed has higher percentage yield and ash content (28.5 and 5.53%) while orange seeds have higher moisture content (62.0%). Adsorption decreases with increase in time and concentration. Soursop seed activated carbon showed a better adsorbent of Cobalt while that of orange seeds showed a better adsorbent of Mercury. The study has shown that both adsorbents had the potential for heavy metal removal from aqueous solutions. The results from the study can be used for the development of efficient, clean and cheap technology for treating effluents. It is therefore recommended that bio char materials from other different sources be investigated for their capacity in removal of heavy metals from contaminated water.