Synthesis of few-layered graphene-like structured activated corn cobs biochar (FLGaCBC) as adsorbent in continuous fixed-bed adsorption set-up for the treatment of Paoay cornick wastewater and desalination of saline water / Romel Giannor E. Agcaoili, Gerald A. Ibarra

UTHESIS (Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering)

Bibliography: leaves 105-113

This study aimed to synthesize few-layered graphene-like structured activated corn cobs biochar (FLGaCBC) as adsorbent in continuous fixed-bed adsorption set-up for Paoay cornick wastewater treatment and saline water desalination. The surface engineered FLGaCBC was successfully synthesized through ultrasonication using 10% H2SO4 solution. It was characterized by SEM, FTIR, pH, proximate and heating value. SEM displayed nanoflake-like structure signifying graphene structure reported in literature. FTIR revealed hydroxyl and carbonyl functional groups on the FLGaCBC surface, optimum pH was 9.95 and fixed carbon was 82.36 wt % with a heating value of 4944.63 cal/g. FLGaCBC was used at varying bed heights (4 cm, 8 cm, and 16 cm) in cornick wastewater treatment. At 16 cm bed height, the TSS, TDS, and conductivity of cornick wastewater was reduced from 11230 to 52 mg/L, 34580 to 332 mg/L, and 2102.30 to 99.42 ms/cm, respectively. The DO and pH increased from 2.4 to 7 mg/L and 3.5 to 8, respectively. These results adhere to DENR standards. Moreover, the FLGaCBC also displayed efficacy in saline water desalination by varying initial NaCl concentrations and bed height. Increasing the bed height negatively affected the salt adsorption capacity (SAC). At 4-cm-bed height, the SAC were 3.6894 and 221.2282 at 1000 and 35000 ppm initial concentrations, respectively. The salt removal increases as bed depth increases with % NaCl removal at 75 and 86.01 recorded at initial concentrations of 1000 and 35000 ppm, respectively, at 16 cm-bed height. As the initial NaCl concentration increases, the SAC and % salt removal increase.