Preparation of Activated Carbon from Thevetia Peruviana Leave and Seed Skin by Chemical Activation with Phosphoric Acid

ABOUT AUTHOR
Adedirin O*, Akanji FT, Orijajogun OJ,Aguzue OC, Adebisi F, David BM, Osuagwu I, Obigwa PA, Adebiyi, AB
Chemistry Advance Laboratory,
Sheda Science and Technology Complex, Km 10 from Gwagwalada,
Abuja–Lokoja Express way, Abuja, Nigeria.
*E-mail: [email protected]

Abstract
Activated carbon was prepared from Thevetia peruviana leave (TPLC) and Thevetia peruviana seed skin (TPSC) by chemical activation with phosphoric acid. The carbons were characterized with pH of point of zero charge, iodine number, proximate analysis and concentration of surface oxygen functional groups of activated carbon. Their characteristics were compared with that of commercial activated carbon. The adsorption of methylene blue by the prepared activated carbon was analyzed by the Langmuir and Freundlich adsorption isotherms. The data for TPLC fitted well to the Freundlich adsorption isotherms while that of TPSC fitted well to Langmuir adsorption isotherm. The adsorption capacities of the carbon calculated from Langmuir isotherm were found to be 3.95 mg/g for TPLC and 4.19 mg/g for TPSC. The XRD pattern of the activated carbon is similar to that of the commercial activated carbon. Also TPSC and TPLC display ability to remove methylene blue from aqueous system and TPSC having better adsorption capacity. TPLC and TPSC showed comparable characteristic with commercial activated carbon.
Key words: Activated carbon, Thevetia peruviana, iodine number, pH point of zero charge, adsorption isotherm.