Authors : Ebelegi, Newton Augustus; Martins Vera Epere; Godwin Jackson; Benson Oguarabau
Volume/Issue : Volume 8 - 2023, Issue 3 - March
Google Scholar : https://bit.ly/3TmGbDi
Scribd : https://bit.ly/3JMBYWl
DOI : https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7749692
Three biosorbents, SBNa (bagasse modified
with sodium hydroxide), SBW (sugarcane bagasse
modified with distilled water) and SBU (untreated
sugarcane bagasse) were prepared from sugarcane stalks
using microwave irradiation assisted method. The
biosorbents were further characterized using
physicochemical procedures. Experimental results
obtained from characterization processes how that SBN
a falls into the alkaline pH range (9.1) making it a very
promising biosorbent for uptake of cationic species when
compared with SWB (pH = 7.7) and SBU (pH = 7.1). All
three biosorbents showed bulk densities lower than the
minimum requirement (0.25gcm-3
) for application in the
removal of pollutants from waste water. Surface area
studies also show that SBNa has the largest surface area
(74.2 m2
/g), SBW (69.4 m2
/g) and SBU (34.44 m2
/g). A
comparison of surface area of SBNa, SBW, SBU with
that of similar biosorbents reveals that SBNa has the
higher surface area. Therefore, the results obtained from
this study can serve as a validation that all the three
synthesized biosorbents could be good adsorbents for
removal of cationic species from aqueous systems
Keywords : Agrowastes, characterization, physicochemical, bulk density, surface area, pH, Sugarcane bagasse, Sodiumhydroxide.