EXPLORING THE POTENTIAL OF LANDOLPHIA OWARIENSIS FRUIT PODS-DERIVED ACTIVATED CARBON FOR HEAVY METAL ION REMOVAL IN INDUSTRIAL WASTEWATER TREATMENT

Abstract

Highly porous activated carbon, renowned for its industrial versatility, was produced from Landolphia owariensis fruit pods and analyzed using advanced spectroscopic and microscopic techniques. The study investigated the adsorption capacity of the activated carbon, revealing a gradual decrease in methylene blue concentration over time, from 1.6 ppm to 1.4 ppm. Furthermore, the activated carbon demonstrated remarkable efficacy in removing heavy metal ions from industrial wastewater, with percentage removals ranging from 37% to 95.74% for various metals, including lead, cadmium, iron, manganese, and zinc, at different adsorbent dosages. Microscopic analysis confirmed the presence of large pores, while spectroscopic analysis identified a diverse array of functional groups, including hydroxyl, alkene, and aromatic moieties. The findings underscore the potential of this activated carbon for mitigating heavy metal pollution in industrial effluents, leveraging its unique porous structure and chemical composition