MODIFICATION OF SURFACE, PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF ACTIVATED CARBONS FOR WATER PURIFICATION

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this work was to study the effect of chemical surface properties of activated carbons for their use in water purification. To achieve this objective, activated carbon in both granular and powdered forms namely: as received and devolatilized carbons were prepared. Proximate analysis of the carbon materials was performed. Mass titration experiments were carried out to determine the point of zero charge of the activated carbon materials. Again, using an ultraviolet spectrophotometer, the adsorption of phenol on asreceived and devolatilized activated carbon was investigated. Adsorption isotherms were acquired from which the monolayer adsorption capacities were calculated.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 ORIGIN AND NATURE OF ACTIVATED CARBON

Carbon is the fifteenth most abundant element in the earths crust and the fourth most abundant element in the universe by mass after hydrogen, helium and oxygen. Scientists, industries, and consumers use different forms of carbon and carbon containing compounds in many ways such as activated carbon or carbon in its active form which can be used to purify water, among others.

Activated carbon is a form of carbon that has been produced to make it extremely porous and thus have a very large surface area available for adsorption or chemical reactions.

It can be defined as a microcrystalline nongraphitic amorphous form of carbon which has been processed to develop a high internal porosity due to its network of interconnecting pores.

The history of activated carbon is dated since the fifteenth century, during the time of Columbus when sailors used to blacken the inside of wooden water barrels with fire, since they observed that the water would stay fresh much longer. It is likely that people at that time proceeded by intuition only without having any insight into the mechanism of the effect. The mechanism was recognized beginning from the eighteenth century.

In 1862, Lipscombe prepared a carbon material for purifying portable water. This development paved the way for the commercial application of activated carbon first for portable water and then in waste water sector.

1.2 METHODS OF MANUFACTURE OF ACTIVATED CARBON

The methods employed in the industrial manufacture of activated carbons are numerous but consist of three main methods namely; Chemical activation, Steam activation and thermal processing techniques.

The raw materials or precursors used in the manufacture of activated carbon are as follows; Softwood, coconut shell, lignite, hardwood, grain and agro products, bituminous coal, anthracite, etc.

Chemical activation is generally used for the production of activated carbon from sawdust, wood or peat and uses chemicals for activation. Chemical activation technique involves mixing an inorganic chemical compound with the carbonaceous raw materials and the most widely used activating agents are Phosphoric acid and Zinc Chloride.

1.3 NEED FOR PRESENT INVESTIGATION

The need for present investigation of this material cannot be over emphasized. This is as a result of the pressing need for treatment of waste water emanating from domestic and industrial concerns.

Activated carbon plays an important role in the purification of fluids water, including vegetable oils used in domestic cooking and as a precursor in industrial manufacture of food products. The slow pace of technological development in the country has resulted to the expenditure of the nations resources on importation of activated carbons to meet the demand for local chemical and process industries, as well as the demand for municipal and industrial water treatment plants.

1.4 OBJECTIVES AND SCOPE OF THE STUDY

The primary objectives and scope of the present investigation include the following:

i. Acquisition of the different types of activated carbons available to the nations chemical industry.

ii. Modification of the surface physical and chemical properties of the carbon material, for their use in liquid phase applications.

iii. Determination of the physical properties of the asreceived and modified activated carbon materials.

iv. Testing the adsorption capacity of the carbon materials in adsorption processes.

v. Evaluation of the fractional surface coverage for each carbon material