Preparation and characterisation of activated carbon from agricultural wastes

Solid waste disposal has become a major problem in India. Either it has to be disposed safely or used for the recovery of valuable materials. As agric ultural wastes like myrobalan, rubber seed coat, cashewnut sheath, palm see d coat, palm tree flower and pongam seed coat comprise of cellulose and lig nin, they may act as good adsorbents. Therefore these wastes have been expl oited for the preparation of activated carbon employing various techniques. Their characterisation studies such as bulk density, moisture content, ash content, fixed carbon content, matter soluble in water, matter soluble in acid, pH, decolourising power, phenol number, ion exchange capacity, iron c ontent and surface area have been carried out to assess the suitability of these carbons as adsorbents in the treatment of water and wastewater. The r esults obtained show them to be good adsorbents for both organics and inorg anics. The present study reveals the recovery of valuable adsorbents from r eadily and cheaply available agricultural wastes.