Production of activated carbon from sawdust and its efficiency in the treatment of sewage water

Abstract

The use of activated carbon for wastewater treatment has been established based on sustainability and cost. This study delves into the intricate process of producing activated carbon from cow and goat bones and explores the efficiency of this material in removing contaminants from distillery wastewater. The samples were carbonized at 700°C in a muffle furnace, then crushed in a mortar after cooling. The crushed samples were activated using 0.4M phosphoric acid for 24 hours and washed with distilled water, and finally oven dried. The elemental and microstructural was carried on the prepared activated carbon (AC) samples using X-ray Fluorescence (XRF) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The heavy metals in the treated water were tested using Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS). The AC was used to treat waste water and factors on which adsorption depend, such as contact time (35 minutes and 60 minutes), adsorbent dosage (2.5g and 5g), and initial contaminant concentration (100% and 50%) were varied for each activated carbon sample (cow bone AC, goat bone AC, and a mixture of equal ratios of both). It was reported that activated carbon prepared from animal bones is rich in calcium. Also, chemical activation with phosphoric acid led to an increase in the external surface area of the particles with irregular cavities and pores. AC prepared from the mixture of cow and goat bones was most effective for distillery wastewater purification.