Obtención de carbón activo a partir de la cascara de naranja (Citrus sinensis Linn Osbeck) para la remoción de cadmio a nivel de laboratorio

Abstract

The research objective consisted of obtaining activated carbon from the orange peel (Citrus Sinensis Linn Osbeck) for the cadmium removal at the laboratory level; This is a residue from the manufacture of juices in the microenterprises of the city of Riobamba. The activated carbon can be obtained through a chemical process that uses acid phosphoric (H3PO4) to be activated, controlling variables such as acid concentration, the carbonization time and temperature. ASTM and ANSI /AWWA standard methods were used to calculate physical and chemical parameters, such as: iodine index, surface area, porosity, adsorption capacity. In addition, the adsorption tests to evaluate its performance in cadmium filtration were conducted. With a 2k factorial experiment design containing three factors and two levels; the optimal conditions for the control of the operational variables of the orange peel for the preparation of activated carbon are: 1 hour of carbonization at 450 degrees Celsius with H3PO4 at a concentration of 30%, through which an activated carbon with a surface area of 774.27 mg / g is obtained. This active carbon is capable of absorbing 63% Cadmium from a solution at 5ppm and saturates at the time of 7 hours. Finally, the research can serve as a reference point to be used as an economic and productive advantage of organic waste in the production process of small, and medium-sized enterprises and micro-enterprises, by providing added value as well as providing guidance to Ecuadorian processors to increase the use of all the by-products.