In this study, coconut shells were converted into biochar via pyrolysis and chemically modified via an acid-base treatment to enrich its adsorption capabilities. Batch experiments were carried out to analyze the adsorption potential of the modified coconut shell (MCSC) or removal of chromium, nickel, and copper from aqueous solution. The chemical modification increased the surface area of MCSC to 185.712 m2/g. Batch adsorption study using MCSC resulted in 99% removal of copper, 95% (nickel), and 39% (chromium). The adsorption of studied metal ions fitted well with Langmuir isotherm, showing a monolayer adsorption process. A kinetic analysis showed that all the samples match a strong correlation coefficient in pseudo-second-order (R2>0.95), indicating the occurrence of a chemical adsorption process.
Heavy metals eradication from water is a complicated subject, therefore a viable, resilient, and green technology is imperative. Heavy metal removal can be accomplished through easy access, economical, and efficient sorbents derived from agricultural waste. In the current study, palm kernel shell (PKS) waste was converted into biochar (PKSC) via pyrolysis. Chemical modification was performed on PKSC via acid-base treatment to refine its adsorption properties. Batch experiments were conducted to study the efficiency of PKSC and acid-base treated PKSC (MPKSC) for removal of Cr(IV), Ni(II) and Cu(II). The surface area was increased from 112.934 m 2/g to 149.670 m 2/g by acid-based treatment. Batch adsorption study showed that the MPKSC afforded high removal efficiency for Cu (99.29%), Ni (96.77%) and Cr (42.97%). The Cr(IV) and Ni(II) adsorption by PKSC, as well as Cr(IV), Ni(II) and Cu(II) adsorption by MPKSC were best represented by Freundlich isotherm. However, Cu(II) adsorption by PKSC can explained by using Langmuir isotherm. All studied heavy metals fitted the pseudo-second-order kinetic.
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