Research Article Open Access

PREPARATION AND CHARACTERISATION OF ACTIVATED CARBON FROM E-WASTE AND ITS APPLICATION ON DYE DECOLOURIZATION

Abstract

 Electronic Wastes (E-Wastes) predominantly consists of Printed Circuit Boards which contains both metallic and non–metallic fractions (NMFs). While the metallic fractions are extracted and recycled, the NMFs are disposed of which are a major source of pollutant to the environment. Thus, it becomes necessary to find novel methods to effectively use this waste. In the current study, it focuses on the conversion of the NMFs into the activated carbon by physical and chemical methods. NMFs are subjected to pyrolysis from 300-700°C to find the optimum temperature for maximum adsorption. Potassium hydroxide was impregnated with the char powder and activated at optimum temperature (600ºC). The prepared activated carbon was characterized by FTIR, SEM and XRD. The Methylene blue dye was used as an adsorbent in this study as it imparts intense coloration. The percentage removal of 10 mg/ml adsorbate is 98% at an optimum contact time of 300 minutes. BET analysis to study the porosity and the surface area was found to be 225.7 m2 /g. Adsorption isotherms such as Langmuir & Freundlich were plotted and the R2 value was found 0.996 and significant.

PANDIMADEVI MUTHURAMAN*, UTHARA S, AKASH RAM AND KORKAI AL

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