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Journal of Applied Sciences

Year: 2006 | Volume: 6 | Issue: 13 | Page No.: 2789-2793
DOI: 10.3923/jas.2006.2789.2793
Heavy Metals Removal in Aqueous Solution by Activated Carbons Prepared from Coconut Shell and Seed Shell of the Palm Tree
S. Gueu, B. Yao, K. Adouby and G. Ado

Abstract: The purpose of this study is to convert locally vegetal materials such as coconut shell and seed shell of palm tree, which are low-cost, renewable and widely available into inexpensive adsorbent materials for heavy metal copper, lead and zinc removal from wastewater. Both raw materials were chemically activated by phosphoric acid (H3PO4). Various parameters such as adsorbent dose, pH and activation temperature of carbon were studied to establish optimum adsorption conditions. The results showed that the rates of adsorption of metals increase with adsorbent dose. The pH variation showed that maximum adsorption capacities were observed at pH 4. The carbons activated at 400°C display the better adsorption capacities. The amount of metal adsorbed on the activated carbons increases in the order Zn, Cu and Pb. Moreover, the presence of other metallic ions in the solution decreases the rate of removal of each of them.

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How to cite this article
S. Gueu, B. Yao, K. Adouby and G. Ado, 2006. Heavy Metals Removal in Aqueous Solution by Activated Carbons Prepared from Coconut Shell and Seed Shell of the Palm Tree. Journal of Applied Sciences, 6: 2789-2793.

Keywords: Heavy metal removal, activation, adsorption and activated carbon

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