Nitrate and Phosphate Adsorption Studies in Cassava Processing Wastewater using Activated Carbon Derived from Cassava Peels

Abstract

Nitrate and Phosphate contamination of water play a major role in the proliferation of eutrophic lakes and algae blooms in water bodies. These are major environmental issues as far as water bodies are concerned. Cassava Peel Carbon (CPC) was produced by carbonising cassava peels which were then chemically activated using Zinc chloride (ZnCl2) at two different activation ratios (2:3 and 1:1) to obtain Cassava Peel Activated Carbon (CPAC). Results from the studies showed that CPAC at both activation levels had slightly higher affinity for nitrate as opposed to phosphorus ions in cassava processing wastewater. A comparison of the decontamination levels of nitrate and phosphate ions in the wastewater by CPAC at 2:3 and 1:1 ZnCl2 activation levels show that both activated carbon materials were able to achieve of decontamination level of over 80 and 70% of the initial nitrate and phosphate ion concentrations respectively. Findings suggest that this adsorbent could be a treatment option for eutrophic water bodies if applied with appropriate dosage.