Comparative Adsorption Of Dyes Unto Activated Carbon Prepared From Maize Stems And Sugar Cane Stems

Comparative adsorption of dyes (bromophenol blue and methyl orange solution) was performed using activated carbon prepared from maize stem and sugarcane stem as low cost agricultural waste adsorbents. The two adsorbents were chemically activated using orthophosphoric acid, potassium hydroxide and zinc chloride. The ash content, percentage fixed carbon and effect of particle sizes were determined. The adsorption capacity of each sample was determined by decolourization of bromophenol blue solution. Three particle sizes (0.5 -0.3m, 0.3 -0.125m, and 0.125 -0.112m) were studied out of which 0.125 -0.112m has the highest quantity of solute adsorbed and this particle size was chosen for the adsorption studies. Of the six activated carbon samples prepared, activated carbon produced from maize stem using orthophosphoric acid, PMA, and activated carbon produced from sugar cane stem using orthophosphoric acid, PSA, have the highest quantity of solute adsorbed, 2.67mg/l and 2.66mg/l respectively and these compete comparatively with the commercial activated carbon (CAC) with 2.76mg/l. Their adsorption capacity is due to the highest percentage fixed carbon they both possess from the list of activated carbon prepared. The percentage fixed carbon of PMA and PSA were 84.88% and 84.80% respectively. The ability of these activated carbon samples to decolourise dye as compared with commercial activated carbon, CAC, and their low cost make them recommendable for treatment of dye from industrial effluent