Production and utilization of cassava peel activated carbon in treatment of effluent from cassava processing industry

Industrial waste disposal is a worldwide problem. It is necessary to manage production facilities and systems properly to prevent environmental degradation. The major aim of this study was to produce Zinc Chloride activated carbon from cassava peels which is a major solid waste from the cassava production process. The wastewater from cassava processing was treated using a peroxide oxidation process before being subjected to adsorption using Cassava Peel Activated Carbon (CPAC) at different activation levels. Results from the study shows that CPAC at activation ratio of 1:1 was the most effective as all parameters after adsorption with the exception of suspended solids fell below FEPA interim standard on discharge. The CPAC at 2:3 activation ratio also met the discharge standards but after 8 hrs of contact time. The result shows that CPAC could be adopted for treatment of cassava industry wastewater. Decontamination efficiency of the CPAC was 100% for Ni, Cd, Cr and CN at all activation levels while BOD₅ removal for no activation, 1:3, 2:3, 1:1 ZnCl₂ activation levels were 78.8, 85.9, 87.9 and 92.9% respectively. The CPAC exhibited the lowest values for Ca removal efficiency of 8.9, 8.9, 10.1 and 10.1% for no activation, 1:3, 2:3 and 1:1 activation levels respectively. Colour removal efficiency values were 33.3, 41.7, 41.7 and 50.0% respectively after 8 hrs of contact time.