Characterization and Utilization of Sulphuric Acid and Bitter Leaf Extract Activated Carbon from Rice Husk for Zn(II) Adsorption

Ilesanmi Osasona; Ujiro Bestow Kanuhor

doi:10.22146/ijc.54786

Characterization and Utilization of Sulphuric Acid and Bitter Leaf Extract Activated Carbon from Rice Husk for Zn(II) Adsorption

https://doi.org/10.22146/ijc.54786

Ilesanmi Osasona^(1*), Ujiro Bestow Kanuhor⁽²⁾

(1) Department of Chemical Sciences, Afe Babalola University, Km 8.5, Afe Babalola Way, P.M.B. 5454, Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria
(2) Department of Chemical Sciences, Afe Babalola University, Km 8.5, Afe Babalola Way, P.M.B. 5454, Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria
(*) Corresponding Author

Abstract

The world is clamoring for green synthetic modes of scientific and technological operations. From this point of view, an attempt was made to prepare activated carbon from rice husk using aqueous bitter leaf extract and a mineral acid (H₂SO₄) separately. The surface characteristics and the adsorption properties of the activated carbons from both methods were compared. The effects of adsorption variables on the adsorption of Zn(II) by bitter leaf extract activated carbon (RHAC1) and H₂SO₄ activated carbon (RHAC2) were conducted through batch studies. The morphological characterization revealed RHAC1 to be fibrous, more porous and contained finer particles than the chemical-activated counterpart. The role of hydroxyl and carbonyl groups in the adsorption of Zn(II) was pivotal. The optimum pH values for the adsorption of Zn(II) by both samples was 7. The adsorption kinetics and equilibrium isotherm obeyed Elovich and Freundlich models respectively while the evaluated Langmuir q_max were 71.47 and 67.12 mg g^–1 for RHAC1 and RHAC2 respectively. The thermodynamic parameters revealed that the process was endothermic and spontaneous at all evaluated temperatures. Therefore, bitter leaf aqueous extract, as an activating agent for carbon production, could serve as a better or close substitute for the less environment-friendly H₂SO₄.

Keywords

adsorption; green synthesis; rice husk; bitter leaf; activated carbon

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.22146/ijc.54786