Abstract In the light of considerable pressure on scarce freshwater sources due to various competing demands, different techniques and materials have been used and still in use to treat and use wastewaters which have been considered as healthy alternatives to minimize the pressure. Bamboo-based (Bambusa vulgaris) activated carbon, produced using carbonization and activation processes was used to treat wastewater obtained from the aquaculture research farm of the Federal University of Technology, Akure. Initial and final characterization of the wastewater samples were performed for 17 physicochemical, 7 heavy metals, and 2 microbiological parameters amongst which were electrical conductivity (EC), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), alkalinity, and acidity. Others are total dissolved solids (TDS), nitrate (Na), nitrite (Ni), and dissolved oxygen (DO). Heavy metals tested were chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), zinc (Zn), and nickel (Ni) while total coliform and total viable counts of bacteria, yeast, and fungi were also analyzed. These analyses were performed following the American Public Health Association (APHA 2005), and the results obtained were subjected to statistical analyses using relevant tools such as SPSS 16 version, Analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Duncan Multiple Range Test at a 95 level of significance. Removal efficiencies between the initial and final characterization of the physicochemical parameters with the adsorbents were marginal except for Ca and acidity having 61 and 62, respectively, in carbonated charcoal. Furthermore, acidity, nitrate, and sulphate have 62, 58, and 57 removal efficiencies in HNO3 AC, respectively, while 60 and 75 were recorded with acidity and nitrite, respectively, in KOH’s AC. All the heavy metals experienced considerable removal efficiency ranging from 71 to 100 in KOH’s AC. The efficacy of HNO3 and KOH’s AC, when compared with carbonated charcoal in wastewater treatment, was highlighted. However, KOH’s AC was confirmed to be more effective in heavy metal removal due to its widespread pore spaces and deeper cavities depicting a very good surface for adsorption capacity.
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