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Investigation of coconut shells activated carbon as the cost effective absorbent

in drinking water filter

Article in Jurnal Teknologi · December 2013

DOI: 10.11113/jt.v77.6656

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Suria Mohd Samdin Hooi Peng Lim

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 Jurnal
Full Paper
Teknologi
INVESTIGATION OF COCONUT SHELLS ACTIVATED Article history
Received
CARBON AS THE COST EFFECTIVE ABSORBENT IN 27 April 2015
Received in revised form
DRINKING WATER FILTER 15 June 2015
Accepted
Suria Mohd Samdin*, Lim Hooi Peng, Maryati Marzuki 25 November 2015

Mechanical Engineering Department, Politeknik Ibrahim Sultan, *Corresponding author:

KM 10 Jalan Kong Kong, 81700 Pasir Gudang, Johor, Malaysia. [email protected]

Graphical abstract Abstract

6.6
Utilization of activated carbon for organic contaminant removal from drinking water is
6.4
commonly practiced in point-of-use (PUO) water applications in Malaysia. Public
6.2
health concerns and demands on water purity with the stated goal in Millennium
pH value

6
Development Goals (MDGs) of improving access to safe drinking water by halve
5.8
ahead of the 2015 has prompted the need to feasible conversion and sustainable
5.6
solutions. This study investigated the efficiency of activated carbon from coconut
5.4
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
shells as the potential cost effective absorbent material in drinking water filter due to its
Level of filtering nature of greater micro-pores, inexpensive and abundantly available over other
agricultural by-products. Activation of the coconut shell carbon was first carried out by
carbonization in the exposure to nitrogen (N2) atmosphere followed by heating with
the activating agents for a specific retention period. pH test and dynamic testing of
filtered water were conducted using the protocol established by ANSI/NSF Standard
53 (Health Effects of Water Treatment System). The pH value was indicated to increase
proportionally to the level of filtering, which has achieved a constant value of 6.41
after eight times of filtering. Additionally, the activated carbon has removed Methyl
Tertiary-butyl Ether (MTBE) to non-detectable level, which is less than 1 part per billion
(ppb). The non-detectable level has sufficiently reduced the odour and taste
problems. Therefore, activated carbon from coconut shells has considerable potential
as the cost effective absorptive material in a drinking water filter.

Keywords: Coconut shells; activated carbon; drinking water filter.

© 2015 Penerbit UTM Press. All rights reserved

1.0 INTRODUCTION carbons which can be used to treat drinking water

commercially as well as keeping the eco-system
There are various natural materials used as a base clean[1]. Activated carbon is a group of
material to produce activated carbons. To date, carbonaceous adsorbents with a vast of crystalline
utilization of agricultural wastes based activated form and extensional growth of internal pore
carbon as the adsorbent to remove organic structures. Activated carbon is activated through an
contaminants is an alternative, knowing that the attentively controlled process in gaseous atmospheric
agricultural wastes are low cost and abundantly and high temperature environment to develop
available. The most common materials used in water remarkably porous carbon structures with a huge
purification are coal, wood and coconut shells. surface area, which permits the carbon to adsorb a
Coconut shell appears to be the most favourable variety range of compounds, as well as removes large
renewable resources among the other agricultural amounts of impurities in a small confined region. Three
wastes with million of acres of plantations per year in forms of activated carbon commonly known are
tropical countries [1-2]. Apparently, coconut shells are granular activated carbon, powder activated carbon
disposed after their inner contents were extracted. and pelletized activated carbon. The granular
These wastes can be recycled into useful activated activated carbon consists of the particles of irregular
shape with 3 to 70 mesh range of sizes. The powder

77:22 (2015) 13-17 | www.jurnalteknologi.utm.my | eISSN 2180–3722 |

14 Suria, Lim Hooi Peng & Maryati / Jurnal Teknologi (Sciences & Engineering) 77:22 (2015) 13-17

form is predominantly less than 70 mesh size of carbon. 2.0 EXPERIMENTAL

On the other hand, the pelletized activated carbon
consists of cylindrical and extruded shaped with 3 to 2.1 Precursor Activation
20 mesh of diameters. The optimized granular coconut
shell activated carbons (CSAC) used in this study is
Flow resistance and adsorption rate in a water filter are
approximately 10 to 20 mesh to remove the acidic
partly affected by the particle size distribution of
organic contaminants in direct pipe water by
granular activated carbon. Therefore, preparation of
adsorption process. Adsorption is known as the process
coconut shells began with milling, pulverizing and
where the surface concentration fluid molecules are
screening the known amount of sample (500 gram) to
absorbed by forces physically or chemically. Three
produce granules of 10 x 20 mesh which have been
basic steps of adsorption start with the adsorption of
found to be sufficient for further activation process [5-
substances to the exterior of the carbon surface and
8]. Particle sizes which are coarser than the tested
then moving into the carbon pores, followed by the
mesh, was used to decrease the number of
adsorption of substances into the interior wall of the
microporosity [9-10]. Further processing of granular
carbons. Base material and the activation process
coconut shells was carried out by carbonization
were found as the main variables that affect the pore
heating at 170 C for 2 hours, which employed
sizes distribution to allow diffusion into the pores [1,4].
nitrogen (N2) gases as the inert atmosphere to form
Several studies have been conducted to investigate
coconut chars. The resulting chars were then
the adsorption efficiency of coconut shell activated
activated in the presence of catalyst at 275 C for
carbons as the organic contaminants removal. These
another 2 hours in reflow furnace to form activated
studies also proposed that there is a significant linear
carbons. Table 1 shows the activation method and
relationship between the dimensions of activated
catalyst used for preparation of activated carbons
carbon filter to the pH values of drinking water[2].
from granular coconut shells.
Therefore, the current study aims to present an
investigation on optimum thickness required for the Table 1 Activation method and catalyst used for preparation
coconut shell activated carbon filter to absorb acidic of activated carbons
residues that contained in direct pipe water. Most of
carbonaceous materials adhere to their own degree Activation Catalyst Temperature Time
of porosity and can be distinguished by their pore method
diameters. Generally, activated carbons are Carbonization --- 170 C 2 hours
categorized as macropores (above 0.4 mesh in an inert
diameter), mesopores (0.4 to 10 mesh diameters) and atmosphere, N2
micropores (below 10 mesh diameter). The exhibition
Chemical Phosphoric 275 C 2 hours
of predominance micropores of coconut shell activation acid (H3PO4)
activated carbons can be defined by their degree of
burn-off. Activated carbons have been widely used as
the reduction medium of the methyl tertiary-butyl Formation of micropores took place gradually when
ether (MTBE) which presence in many chlorinated the granules of coconut shells reacted with the
water supplies. The major use of MTBE is as the petrol catalyst. Phosphoric acid (H3PO4) acted as the
additive to oxygenate the exhaust discharge and activating agent to form porous structures of the
improve combustion. Spills and leaks of petrol storage activated carbons through dehydration and
tanks are seen as a potentially treat for ground degradation of the raw precursors. Finally, the
drinking water supplies as MTBE moves fast through soil, activated carbons were cooled and cleaned with
simply dissolve in water and takes longer time to distilled water to remove impurities and chemicals.
resolve than some other chemicals. Typically, water
with significant concentrations of MTBE was indicated 2.2 Determination of the Degree of Burn-off
to taste and smell like turpentine. However, agricultural
wastes based activated carbons can absorb and The degree of activated carbon burn-off,  (wt%) was
reduce the tastes and odours through the water calculated through equation (1) as follow:
treatment process. Therefore, the main purposes of the
present study are to investigate the efficiency of  = Wi – Wf x 100 (1)
coconut shell activated carbons as the possible Wi
absorbent to remove organic contaminants, and to
indicate the optimum filtering level of coconut shell where Wi is the initial mass of the coconut shells sample
activated carbons to achieve constant and safe (g) and Wf is the mass of the sample after subjected to
drinking pH value as well as the potential of coconut activation (g). The objective of indicating the degree
shell activated carbons to reduce the MTBE of activated carbon burn-off is to define the formation
concentration to non-detect levels. of microporous activated carbon when the extent of
burn-off is less than 50 wt%. Dubinin and Zaverina
proposed that a macroporous active carbon was
formed when the burn-off degree is greater than 75
15 Suria, Lim Hooi Peng & Maryati / Jurnal Teknologi (Sciences & Engineering) 77:22 (2015) 13-17

wt% and the sample has a mixed porous structure but is at a safe level to drink. Even though the drinking
when the degree of burn-off is between 50 wt% to 75 water treatment adheres to approved standards, the
wt%[3]. The later research of pore structures in residual contents of Iron, Manganese and Aluminium
activated carbon confirmed the linearity of pores size are considerable high causing precipitation in the
is ascended to the degree of burn-off[4]. household water distribution system and stay stagnant
in the distribution system. These residuals could have
2.3 Batch Experiments of Activated Carbon Absorption not washed away by self-cleaning velocity and
Capacity caused rusty in the pipe. In the present study, the pH
value of direct pipe water without using the filtration
Indication of pH value for filtered water was system by coconut shell activated carbons was
conducted to indicate the absorption capacity of measured to be an acidic solution at pH 5.5. Figure 1
coconut shell activated carbons by filtering the pipe illustrates the pH values of water filtered by activated
water with these activated carbons for a fixed carbons for up to ten levels of filtering which the fixed
thickness for up to ten times of filtering. Dynamic thickness of each filtering level was measured at 4
testing was carried out using the water filter with mm. The pH value was indicated to increase
optimized thickness indicated through pH testing proportionally to the level of filtering which has
according to ANSI/NSF Standard 53 (Health Effects of achieved a constant value of 6.41 after eight times of
Water Treatment Systems) to identify the MTBE filtering with minimum thickness for filter of 32 mm.
concentration of coconut shell activated carbons. The
MTBE is the most common oxygenated fuel additive 6.6
present in pipe water throughout the main filtration 6.4
process. Additionally, commercial coal derived
6.2
activated carbon was used as a reference in
comparison with the MTBE absorption. pH value 6

5.8

3.0 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 5.6

5.4
3.1 Burn-off Degree of Coconut Shell Activated 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Carbons Level of filtering

The total mass of the activated carbons after Figure 1 pH values of samplings vs level of filtering
subjecting to chemical activation process was
indicated as 362 gram. Equation (2) showed the value
of burn-off degree of activated carbons at 27.6 wt% 3.3 Removal of MTBE by Activated Carbons
which is less than 50 wt%. Therefore, the porous
structures formed are identified as microspores. The methyl tertiary-butyl ether (MTBE) is the most
common oxygenated fuel additive presents in ground
 = 500 – 362 x 100 (2) water throughout the main filtering process. MTBE is
500 normally added to petrol in controlled amount of less
= 27.6 wt% than 15% by volume to improve combustion and
reduce the exhaust emissions, especially carbon
The capacity of absorption of coconut shell activated monoxide. Ground water is always contaminated by
carbons relies predominantly on the existence of petrol spills and seen as a potentially severe threat to
micropores. Micropores exhibit molecular dimension drinking water supplies. Therefore, a comparative
of 0.6 nm to 1.6 nm where the adsorption in these study was carried out to indicate the efficiency of
molecular pores takes place by filling of volume[5]. The utilizing coconut shell activated carbons as the
capacity of absorption by these pores is greater than potential absorbent in drinking water filter by taking
macropores due to the protruding of the absorption the commercial coal activated carbons as reference.
forces by the pore’s walls adversely. The absorption is Yearly consumption of drinking water with MTBE level
commenced by capillary condensation. of approximately 20 to 40 parts per billion (ppb) is
acceptable and do not possess harm to human body
3.2 pH Value of Filtered Pipe Water by Activated according to EPA’s Drinking Water Advisory published
Carbons in 2012[6]. In this study, the MTBE level of tested
samplings was measured using dynamic testing in
The dosing of chlorine and fluoride as the disinfectants laboratory of Syarikat Air Johor (SAJ) at interval bed
in water treatment is specified under National volumes for up to 5m3. Table 2 shows the MTBE effluent
Standard for Drinking Water Quality (NSDWQ) and concentration (ppb) of sample without filtration;
strictly monitored by the Ministry of Health (MOH) in sample filtered using commercial coal and coconut
Malaysia. The amount of chlorine and fluoride used for shell activated carbons respectively. The trends of
disinfection is sufficient to destroy the microorganisms,
16 Suria, Lim Hooi Peng & Maryati / Jurnal Teknologi (Sciences & Engineering) 77:22 (2015) 13-17

these samplings corresponded with the MTBE effluent

concentrations (ppb) were plotted in Figure 2. The experimental results of this study have shown the
potential ability of coconut shells to produce the
optimized activated carbons with well developed
Table 2 MTBE effluent concentrations (ppb) of activated microspores by chemical activation method with the
carbons addition of phosphoric acid (H3PO4) as the catalyst. It
was established that coconut shells that were
MTBE effluent concentrations (ppb) carbonized in a defined condition with exposure to
Number of bed inert N2 atmosphere at 170 C followed by activation
1 2 3 4 5
volume (m3 ) at 275 C with catalyst have created granules with
Without filter 12.8 13.5 13.9 14.3 15.2 microporous structures. These micropores were
indicated by calculating the burn-off degree for these
Coconut shells 0.56 0.6 0.61 0.68 0.69 activated carbons. On the determination of pH value
Commercial coal 2.5 2.8 3 4.2 5.02 for water filtered by these activated carbons, as the
level of filtering is increased, the pH value of the tested
samplings increase and achieved a constant value at
It was established that the sample filtered by 6.41 after eight times of filtering. This constant pH value
coconut shell activated carbons exhibited the lowest indicates the minimum thickness required for coconut
concentration of MTBE at 0.69 ppb after 5m 3 water shell activated carbon water filter is 32 mm.
was treated, indicating its highest capacity as an Nevertheless, water filtered by coconut shell activated
absorbent as shown in Figure 2. carbons showed the lowest effluent concentration of
MTBE as compared to typical commercial coal
16 activated carbons and water without filtration at 0.69
ppb after 5m3 water was treated. The results indicated
MTBE effluent concentration (ppb)

Without filtration
14
that activated carbons by coconut shell has
12
consistently achieved high absorption capability to
10
remove the effluent of MTBE concentration into non
8 detect level which is less than 1 ppb. Therefore,
6 activated carbon from coconut shells has a
Coal
4 considerable potential as a cost effective absorbent
2 material in drinking water.
Coconut shell
0
1 2 3 4 5
Number of bed volume (m 3) Acknowledgement
Figure 2 MTBE effluent concentrations (ppb) of activated
The authors are grateful to Mohd Nur Asraf Mohd Khir,
carbon samplings
Abdul Qayyum Hamzah, Muhammad Faiszuddin Ishak
and Nur Insyirah Rafee for the contribution of
Nevertheless, a great difference was observed for conducting the experiments.
water without filtration where the concentration of
MTBE was recorded to have the highest reading at
12.8 ppb after 1m3 water was treated and ascended References
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4.0 CONCLUSION
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