Activated Carbon from the Peelings of Cassava Tubers (Manihot esculenta) for the Removal of Nickel(II) Ions from Aqueous Solution

Abstract

Activated carbons were obtained from the peelings of cassava tubers (Manihot esculenta) by chemical activation using potassium hydroxide and phosphoric acid at impregnation ratios of 2: 1 and 1: 1, respectively, at 400°C for batch adsorption of nickel(II) ions from aqueous solution. Characterization of activated carbon samples was achieved via proximate analysis, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, pH of zero-point charge, Boehm method, elemental analysis, scanning electron microscopy, and iodine number determination for each adsorbent. The effects of pH, contact time, initial adsorbate concentration, and adsorbent dose were studied at 27°C in order to optimize the conditions for maximum adsorption. Equilibrium was attained after 40 minutes of contact of both materials with activating solutions. Maximum adsorption capacities of 41.15 mg/g for ACPH, 47.39 mg/g for ACPA, 35.34 mg/g for NIC, and 34.48 mg/g for RM, respectively, were obtained at pH = 4. Equilibrium data showed that the Langmuir model best described the adsorption process with R2 closed to unity, indicative of monolayer adsorption on a homogeneous surface. Kinetic studies showed that the adsorption process is controlled by the pseudo-second-order model. These results show that activated carbon prepared from cassava peelings constitutes an effective low-cost material for the treatment of wastewater containing nickel(II) ions.