Comparative Analysis of the Adsorption of Heavy Metals in Wastewater Using Borrassus Aethiopium and Cocos Nucifera
Adie D.B, Okuofu C.A., Osakwe C.

Abstract
In the study, the adsorption of heavy metal ions (Pb2+ and Cd2+) using activated carbon from Borassus aethiopum (seed shells) and Cocos nucifera (shells) was carried out, so as to comparatively evaluate the effectiveness of both adsorbents for the purpose of removing Pb2+ and Cd2+ from wastewater. Borassus aethiopum seed shells (BASS) and Cocos nucifera shells (CONS) collected within Zaria and its environs were crushed into particle size of about 300-450μm and the physico-chemical as well as the adsorption properties of the activated BASS/CONS were studied. Effects of various process parameters have been investigated in this study as well by following batch adsorption technique at 30±2oC. Percentage removal of Pb2+ and Cd2+ was found to increase with decrease in initial concentration of metal ion, and increased with increase in contact time and adsorbent dose. The monolayer adsorption capacity, Qo for Pb (II) was found to be 12.19 mg/g and 24.39 mg/g for activated BASS and CONS respectively. In the same vein, the monolayer adsorption capacity, Qo for Cd (II) was found to be 10.20 mg/g and 25.797 mg/g for activated BASS and CONS respectively. In conclusion, it was established that activated CONS had a higher monolayer adsorption capacity for Pb2+/Cd2+ than activated BASS.

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