Adsorption techniques using meshed groundnut husks and plantain peels have provided cheap alternative to the conventional methods of crude oil spillage control and also for good waste managementapproach. The biodegradable nature of these adsorbents makes it a better alternative to the non biodegradable synthetic polymers. Dry unripe plantain peels and groundnut husks were used to prepare the adsorbents. The adsorption and percentage removal of crude oil from effluent produce water was dependent on adsorbent dosage, contact time,temperature and particle size. The particle size of the adsorbents should notbe less than 150 μm to avoid making the particles so loosed thus posing difficulty in recovery. The two adsorbents exhibit high affinity for oil adsorption with time especially at 75 μm, groundnut husk has abetter performance because of its larger surface area and the presence of residual oil in the plantain peels. Agitation at 150 r.min-1 and contact time between 15 - 75 min are recommended. The optimum adsorption temperature ranged between 25°C - 45°C and 15°C - 45°C for groundnut husks and plantain peels respectively.The adsorption data indicated that a pseudo-second- order equation could be used to study the adsorption kinetics of both adsorbents.
展开▼
