PERFORMANCE EVALUATION OF RECYCLED PLANT-BASED ACTIVATED CARBON FOR CASSAVA WASTEWATER TREATMENT: CASE STUDY OF COCONUT AND PALM KERNEL SHELLS

Abstract

Environmental pollution from poor cassava wastewater management have been a serious concern for local industries across the developing world. As such, different cassava wastewater treatment strategies have been adopted across the world, particularly the developing Nations to curb the proliferation of toxins. This work therefore is to evaluate the toxins removal efficiency of two plant-based activated carbon products for the treatment of the cassava wastewater effluents. The two plant-based treatment media used for comparison were coconut and palm kernel shell activated carbon samples. Parameters analysed were Electrical Conductivity (EC), Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), Total Suspended Solids (TSS), Chloride, Sulphate (SO42-), pH, Total Hardness (TH), Total Bacterial Count, Iron (Fe2+), and Cyanide. Out of the Ten (10) parameters analyzed, Iron concentration was lowered equally by the two media. The palm kernel shell activated carbon treatment achieved 50% efficiency of the treated parameters (Electrical Conductivity, TDS, Chloride, Sulphate, and Cyanide), while the coconut shell activated carbon treatment achieved 40% efficiency of the treated parameters (pH, TH, and Total Bacterial Count). TSS concentrations increased dramatically following treatment with activated carbon derived from coconut and palm kernel shells. The palm kernel shell treatment resulted in a higher TSS than the coconut shell treatment. Despite treatment with plant-based activated carbon samples, the levels of EC, TSS, and cyanide were much higher than the FEPA (surface water and land disposal limitations) and EPA/WHO effluent discharge guidelines