Rizka Aulia Hanifah, Susila Kristianingrum

Effectiveness of Peanut Shell Activated Carbon as an Adsorbent for Co(II) and Cu(II) Metals in Waste Water Using a Continuous System

Introduction

Effectiveness of peanut shell activated carbon as an adsorbent for co(ii) and cu(ii) metals in waste water using a continuous system. Explore peanut shell activated carbon's effectiveness for Co(II) and Cu(II) heavy metal removal from textile wastewater via a continuous system. Discover high adsorption efficiencies.

Abstract

This study aims to investigate the characteristics and performance of physic-chemically activated peanut shell adsorbent in reducing Co(II) and Cu(II) metal concentrations from textile industry wastewater. The activation process involved heating at 450°C and immersion in 0.5 M NaOH. Adsorbent characterization was conducted according to SNI 06-3730-1995 and analyzed using SEM-EDX. Adsorption was carried out in a continuous column system with variations in flow rate, adsorbent mass, and initial concentrations of Co(II) and Cu(II). The unactivated adsorbent had a moisture content of 3.11%, ash content of 5.54%, volatile matter of 64.01%, carbon content of 85.43%, and iodine adsorption of 261.68 mg/g. After activation, these values changed to 3.99%, 7.45%, 53.88%, 74.50%, and 355.32 mg/g, respectively. Optimum adsorption of Co(II) occurred at a flow rate of 0.0358 mL/s and 0.9 g adsorbent mass, while for Cu(II), the optimum was at 0.1282 mL/s and 0.9 g. The optimal volume ratio for both metals was 1:2 (v/v). Adsorption efficiency reached 78.34% for Co(II) and 99.98% for Cu(II), with adsorption capacities of 7.95 mg/g and 9.73 mg/g, respectively.

Review

This study presents a timely investigation into the potential of activated peanut shells as a sustainable adsorbent for removing Co(II) and Cu(II) heavy metals from textile industry wastewater. The authors meticulously detail the preparation of the adsorbent, involving a combination of thermal treatment at 450°C and chemical activation with 0.5 M NaOH, which is a commendable approach for enhancing the material's adsorption properties. A significant strength of this research lies in its focus on a continuous column system, which offers a more realistic and scalable assessment of adsorbent performance compared to traditional batch studies, making the findings more relevant for practical industrial applications in wastewater treatment. The experimental methodology includes comprehensive characterization of the adsorbent, adhering to SNI standards and utilizing SEM-EDX analysis. The reported changes in material properties after activation are noteworthy; while some parameters like moisture and ash content showed slight increases, and carbon content a decrease (from 85.43% to 74.50%), the crucial iodine adsorption capacity significantly improved from 261.68 mg/g to 355.32 mg/g. This demonstrates the successful creation of a more porous material suitable for adsorption. The study systematically optimized key operational parameters in the continuous system, identifying specific optimal flow rates (0.0358 mL/s for Co(II) and 0.1282 mL/s for Cu(II)) and a consistent adsorbent mass (0.9 g) for both metals, along with an optimal volume ratio of 1:2. The resulting adsorption efficiencies are impressive, particularly for Cu(II) at 99.98%, and also very good for Co(II) at 78.34%, with capacities of 7.95 mg/g and 9.73 mg/g, respectively. Overall, this research successfully demonstrates the viability of peanut shell-derived activated carbon as an effective and eco-friendly adsorbent for heavy metal removal in a continuous flow system. The high adsorption efficiency for copper and good efficiency for cobalt highlight its potential as a low-cost alternative for wastewater treatment. To further strengthen future work, it would be beneficial to explore the regeneration potential and reusability of the activated carbon over multiple cycles, investigate the underlying adsorption mechanisms in greater detail, and conduct pilot-scale studies using actual textile wastewater matrices to account for potential interferences from other complex pollutants. A comparative analysis with commercially available activated carbons would also provide valuable context regarding its competitive performance.

Full Text

Comments

You need to be logged in to post a comment.