Removal of Benzene from Oil Spill Wastewater Using Activated Carbon Developed from Watermelon Rind by Chemical Activation with H2SO4

Abstract

This study focused on developing activated carbon from watermelon rind for the removal of benzene from oil-spilled wastewater: The activated carbon was produced from biochar, which was produced from watermelon rind. The activated carbon was produced via chemical activation using sulphuric acid. The influence of process parameters like time, temperature, and impregnation ratio was investigated during the preparation of biochar and activated carbon respectively. The adsorbent was characterized Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) analysis to determine the surface area, pore volume and pore diameter. The activated carbon was used in batch adsorption on oil wastewater: The effect of contact time, adsorbent dosage, and temperature on the adsorption process was studied and optimized using response surface methodology. The results showed that the yield was lowered when the carbonization temperature and impregnation ratio was increased. Maximum specific surface area of the activated carbon of 900m /g was obtained at 700°C with activation duration of 15 minutes and at an impregnation ratio of 2/1. The results of the adsorption showed that benzene removal largely depended on the operating parameters, as the highest removal efficiency for benzene was recorded as 51% at optimal temperature, time, and adsorbent dosage parameters. This method of adsorption removal is economical as it utilizes the use of agricultural waste.