Adsorption of Bio accumulated Heavy Metals Using Activated carbon Derived from Palm Kernel Shell

Abstract

Adsorption is an efficient process in practice for the removal of heavy metal contaminants from agricultural soils with minimal effect on the soil fertility. Milled palm kernel shells were obtained from a palm kernel factory at Ibagwa in Igbo- Eze North L.G.A of Enugu State. They were carbonized at 6000°C; activated at 9000°C for 120 seconds. The activating re-agents used were 0.2 and 0.8m solution of magnesium chloride (MgCl₂). The amount of lead and copper ions removed from aqueous solution by raw, carbonized and activated palm kennel shell were examined by sorption experiment at a constant ion-substrate contact period of 60 minutes using metal ion concentration range of 100 - 500mg/L. The adsorption of copper and lead ions from aqueous solutions by 0.2 mole MgCl2 activated palm kennel shell was investigated. The results show that maximum adsorption occurred at 80.0 mg/g for Cu²⁺ and 114.0 mg/g for Pb²⁺ with raw palm kernel shell. The adsorption efficiency of each ion was influenced by the presence of the other and the activation of the palm kernel shell. The amount of ions removed from solution by the absorbent were in the order of Pb (II) > Cu (II), which is the order of their availability.

KEY WORDS: Adsorption, Bioaccumulation, Heavy metals, Bioremediation,
Soil Contamination