Chemical activation of sugar cane bagasse (Saccharum officinarum) on nickel (II) adsorption in industrial effluents

• Sabrina Acevedo Universidad del Zulia-Venezuela
• Marinela Colina Universidad del Zulia-Venezuela
• Altamira Díaz Universidad del Zulia-Venezuela
• Nola Fernández Universidad del Zulia-Venezuela
• Elisabeth Behling Universidad del Zulia-Venezuela
• Julio Marín Universidad del Zulia-Venezuela
• Gilberto Colina Universidad del Zulia-Venezuela

Resumen

Sugarcane bagasse Saccharum officinarum was used as a precursor on nickel (II) adsorption present in coal mining effluents. The sample of bagasse was dried, smashed and sieved until obtaining an adequate granulometry, then it was activated with H3PO4 40%p/p during 14 hours, the materials were pyrolized for one hour at 400 and 500°C respectively, obtaining prepared activated coal (PAC-400 y PAC-500). The specific area was determined by using the conventional procedure of Brunauer-Emmen- Teller (BET). The areas (SBET) at CAP-400 and CAP-500 were of 994 and 1344m2/g respectively. Solutions of nitrate of nickel Ni(NO3)2, at initial concentrations (Co) of 50,100 and 150 mg/L, had a treatment with the PAC, in a contact time of 1 hour and 25°C, the operational pH were 5,0; 5,5 and 6,0. The PAC at 500°C can remove 85,66% of nickel with an Co of 50 mg/L at pH 5,5. The essays at pH 5 and 6 presented a nickel removal of 83,87 and 83,65% respectively. For a Co of 100 and 150 mg/L of Ni(NO3)2 the removal percentage lows. This tendency was similar to the ones with the PAC at 400°C. For the industrial effluent the removal percentage was 96,03%.