DSpace Collection: Chemistry

Thermal Degradation and Particle Size Distribution Studies of Activated Carbon obtained from Coconut Shells

2026-05-14T14:55:13Z

Title: Thermal Degradation and Particle Size Distribution Studies of Activated Carbon obtained from Coconut Shells Authors: Sumaila, A.; Sumaila, A.O.; Usman, A.O.; Abdullahi, A.S.; Abdullahi, Z. Abstract: Potassium hydroxide as a chemical activator successfully produced activated carbon based coconut shells. The coconut shells were collected from a market in Enugu State, Nigeria, sun-dried and ground into powder. The powdered sample was carbonized for 1 hour at 300°C and then activated with KOH. The thermal stability and particle size distributions of all the samples were then determined using thermogravimetric analysis and dynamic light scattering techniques. The TGA results show that the trend of activated carbon 1:0 < activated carbon 1:1 < activated carbon 1:2 corresponds to the increase in the proportion of KOH. The particle size distribution results of all the samples reveal polydispersity due to their PDI > 0.1 and as well show the presence of additional peaks at small sizes which may be due to additives or buffer components from the activating agents. Thus, both TGA and DLS findings reveal that the prepared activated carbon-based coconut shells are of good thermal stability and particle size distribution Description: Research article

Physicochemical Properties And Characterisation of Activated Carbon Prepared From Palm Kernel Shell

2026-04-28T19:08:00Z

Title: Physicochemical Properties And Characterisation of Activated Carbon Prepared From Palm Kernel Shell Authors: IDRIS, SULEIMAN; Muhammad Boyi, Y.,; Jamiu, W.,; Nura, K.,; Precious, A. J. Abstract: Palm kernel shells, which are free and naturally abundant, were employed for activated carbon preparation using H3PO4 and ZnCl2 activating agents. Research findings indicated AC1 with an ash content of 8.23±0.11%, and that of AC2 was 7.03±0.01%, moisture content for AC1 and AC2 was 7.61±0.02% and 7.05±0.04% indicating a well-dried and packaged activated carbon. The results also indicated 15.04±0.15% for AC1 and 14.87±0.05% for AC2, with good fixed carbon content of 69.12±0.01% for AC1 and 71.05±0.04% for AC2 since the value for the fixed carbon content should be equal to or greater than 65% for a good activated carbon. The BET surface area of 976.48 m2/g recorded for AC2 was high compared to 815.38 m2/g indicated for AC1, and total pore volume of 0.30 cm3/g and 0.46 cm3/g was revealed for AC1 and AC2, respectively. The prepared activated carbons are both mesopores that are crucial in facilitating the access of the adsorbate molecules to the interior of the carbon particles. FTIR spectrum for AC1 indicated the peak occurrence at 1735.1 cm-1 and this may be attributed to the C = O stretching vibration. The presence of the absorption band at 1996.0 cm-1 is responsible for the presence of the C = C = C stretching vibration. The peak around 2109.7 and 2883.1 cm-1 could also be attributed to CΞC and C-H stretching bond. Also, for the AC2 spectral, the presence of the peak at 875.9 cm-1 indicates C = C stretching vibration, while the peak at 1032.5 cm-1 reveals C-O stretching, and the peak at 2883.1 cm-1 shows C-H stretching bond respectively. Description: Research Article

Physicochemical and Characteristic Properties of Activated Carbon Prepared from Mango Seed Shells Via H3PO4 and ZnCl2 Activation

2026-04-28T18:26:48Z

Title: Physicochemical and Characteristic Properties of Activated Carbon Prepared from Mango Seed Shells Via H3PO4 and ZnCl2 Activation Authors: IDRIS, SULEIMAN; Jamiu, W.,; Muhammad Boyi, Y.,; Shehu, I. D.,; Adeniyi, J. O. Abstract: Highly porous and surface area activated carbons was prepared from mango seed shells using H3PO4 and ZnCl2 as an activating agent. The activated carbon was prepared firstly by carbonisation followed by activation process. Physicochemical properties of activated carbons namely ash content was found to be 9.21±0.03% for AC1 (activated carbon prepared using H3PO4 activation) and 8.12±0.03% for AC2 (activated carbon prepared using ZnCl2 activation). ; low moisture content of 2.03±0.01% for AC1 and 2.02±0.13% for AC2; volatile matter of 20.11±0.05% was recorded for AC1 and 20.02±0.03% for AC2 while high fixed carbon values was recorded for AC1 as 68.65±0.05% and 69.84±0.14% for AC2. The findings also revealed BET surface area values of 227.40 m2/g and 375.14 m2/g for AC1 and AC2; total pore value of 0.35 cm3/g and 0.48 cm3/g for AC1 and AC2 while pore diameter values was found to be 2.12 nm for AC1 and 2.46 nm for AC2 which indicated that both activated carbons are mesoporous making them crucial in facilitating the access of the adsorbate molecules to the interior of the carbon particles. FTIR analysis in activated carbon revealed stretching vibration C=O bond, C≡C bond, C≡N bond and C-H bond for AC1 and AC2. TGA was used to assess how the material responds to increasing temperatures. The prepared activated carbon has good fixed carbon content, better surface area and good pore diameter for better adsorption application.

REDUCTION OF TOTAL ORGANIC CARBON AND BIOCHEMICAL OXYGEN DEMAND USING MODIFIED AND UNMODIFIED Hibiscus sabdiriffa AND Hibiscus esculentus STALKS: KINETIC AND ISOTHERM STUDY

2024-08-02T08:12:26Z

Title: REDUCTION OF TOTAL ORGANIC CARBON AND BIOCHEMICAL OXYGEN DEMAND USING MODIFIED AND UNMODIFIED Hibiscus sabdiriffa AND Hibiscus esculentus STALKS: KINETIC AND ISOTHERM STUDY Authors: Anyanwu, S.K.; Sulaiman, M. I.; Jimoh, T. O.; Suleiman, M. A. T Abstract: Treatment of dye effluent could become a great move towards environmental protection and sustainability. Hence, this research was aimed at studying the use of Hibiscus esculentus and Hibiscus sabdiriffa Stalks for the reduction of Total Organic Carbon (TOC) and Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD). Hibiscus esculentus and Hibiscus sabdiriffa stalks were collected, modified with Cetyltrimethylammonium Bromide and characterised by various techniques: High Resolution Scanning Electron Microscopy (HRSEM), Electron Dispersive Spectrometer (EDS), and Fourier Transform Infra Ray (FTIR). The adsorption studies of Hibiscus esculentus and Hibiscus sabdiriffa unmodified and modified for TOC and BOD reduction in wastewater collected from a dyeing pit at Kofar Mata Dye site in Kano, Nigeria were evaluated at different contact times, and dosage of adsorbents. The HRSEM results revealed surface morphology for unmodified Hibiscus sabdiriffa and Hibiscus esculentus were without defined pores, ridges, and defects, whereas for modified Hibiscus sabdiriffa and Hibiscus esculentus were textural and morphological changes. EDS studies showed evidence of the increment in carbon into the matrix of the modified Hibiscus sabdiriffa and Hibiscus esculentus activated carbon: 99.39 % and 98.21 % resp. Reduction of TOC from the wastewater increased with time and attained equilibrium at average of 94.35 % for modified Hibiscus sabdiriffa and Hibiscus esculentus activated carbon respectively and average of 80.10 % for unmodified Hibiscus sabdiriffa and Hibiscus esculentus respectively. Reduction of BOD from the wastewater, equilibrium was attained at average of 90.10 %, for modified Hibiscus sabdiriffa and Hibiscus esculentus activated carbon respectively and 85.10 % for unmodified Hibiscus sabdiriffa and Hibiscus esculentus activated carbon respectively. Isotherms data evaluated revealed Langmuir isotherm best fitted the equilibrium data. The kinetic data for all the adsorption experiments fitted to the pseudo- second–order model. Surfactant modified Hibiscus sabdiriffa and Hibiscus esculentus had good performance on TOC and BOD reduction of the textile wastewater than unmodified Hibiscus sabdiriffa and Hibiscus esculentus stalks.