Production of activated carbon from tea waste and its application in water treatment
Journal Title: Journal of Biodiversity and Environmental Sciences (JBES) - Year 2017, Vol 11, Issue 1
Abstract
Activated carbon is known as one of the most environment friendly adsorbents for its consumption in industries as well as in water treatment. The purpose of the study was to utilize tea waste as a low cost and readily available natural precursor for production of this valuable adsorbent by simple methods and to apply the product for water treatment. Dried tea wastes of two local brands treated with 0.5M and 1M sulfuric acid as an activating agent were subjected to direct combustion, carbonization at 500oC and sieving to produce activated carbon. The product was characterized for its adsorption activity through determination of iodine number, moisture and ash content, pH and percentage yield. Percentage yield of the activated carbons was more with 0.5M activating agent (24.6% and26.4%) compared to the yield with 1M activating agent (23.4% and 25%). Higher iodine number (672.3mg/g and 597.6mg/g) with 1M activating agent indicates better adsorption activity of the activated carbons compared to 0.5M concentration (224.1mg/g and 373.5mg/g). Higher molarity of sulfuric acid reduced total dissolved solids and turbidity more while increasing the dissolved oxygen both in canal and lake water samples compared to the untreated ones. The color removing ability was also checked. A change towards lighter color intensity for activated carbon treated red, green and yellow food color aqueous solutions was confirmed by spectrophotometric analysis. It is concluded that 1M sulfuric acid is a better option for producing activated carbon from tea waste and that the product is an effective adsorbent for water purification.
Authors and Affiliations
Tea waste, Activating agent, Activated carbon, Adsorption activity, Water treatment
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP39183
- DOI -
- Views 144
- Downloads 0
Molecular comparison of Clarias batrachus (Linnaeus, 1758) found in India with the species reported from Bangladesh
In the present study molecular comparison of Clarias batrachus from Meerut, India was done with the same species reported from Bangladesh using 16S rRNA. Since, they are morphologically similar, the conservedness in se...
Species richness, distribution, bioindication and ecology of epiphytic lichens in oak forests of Kroumiria, North West of Tunisia
Lichen communities were studied in deciduous oak forests across Kroumiria region, northern west of Tunisia to find out the lichen species richness, make an idea about their ecology, relative distribution and actual stat...
Lethal effects of tungsten and boric acid, and three garlic, basil and caraway essential oils on Amitermes vilis (Isoptera: termitidae) and its endosymbiont’s cellulolytic activity
Termites are considered as one of the most important and largest groups of insects in terrestrial ecosystems that decompose lignocelluloses. Isolation and characterization of cellulolytic strains from termites will also...
The ecology and morphological variation of Hypnea (Red algae) species in Iran
Morphological and ecological variations and inter-specific relationships of a red algal genus, Hypnea were investigated based on 34 populations belong to 7 species from Persian Gulf and Oman sea coasts. cluster analyse...
Morphological, anatomical and numerical taxonomy studies for some species of the fabaceae family
Morphological, anatomical, geographical and numerical taxonomy studies suggested in an attempt to provide us more detailed descriptions of six species for the Fabaceae family newly added to the flora of Iraq. This specie...