PRODUCTION OF LOW-COST CARBON ADSORBENTS FROM AGRICULTURAL WASTES AND THEIR IMPACT ON DYE ADSORPTION

This study concerns utilizing commonly available agricultural wastes like mustard stalk, jute stalk, sesame stalk, wheat straw, bagasse, and rice husk in a proper and efficient way. As a part of this research, activated carbon has been prepared from these wastes by a two-stage activation process with a carbonization stage up to 325°C as a first stage followed by chemical activation using zinc chloride as an activation agent. The effects of temperature, time, and impregnation ratio on activation have been studied. The batch adsorption technique has been utilized to obtain information for treating effluents from the dye industry. Methylene blue dye has been chosen as the standard. Adsorption data have been modeled using the Freundlich and Langmuir adsorption isotherms and first- and second-order kinetic equations and intraparticle diffusion model. Specific surface area was determined by the methylene blue spot test. The results indicate that such carbons can be employed as low-cost alternatives to expensive...