Treatment of polluted water (river) by using activated carbon from coir pith

摘要

Coconut coir pith waste is a highly porous by product generated duringudseparation of coconut fibers from its shell. Its accumulation in fiber production unitsudcauses problem of disposal and environmental pollution. Due to its highly porousudstructure and fixed carbon content, it has been tried as a raw material for theudproduction of activated carbon (AC). A physical activation method has beenudimplemented to produce activated carbon from cleaned coconut coir pith. The coirudpith has been put in the small porcelain with lid and burned in the furnace withudtemperature range of 500"C for 2 hours. The activated carbon then impregnated withudacid sulphuric and distilled water to balance the pH value. The AC divided into twoudsizes which is Granular Activated Carbon (GAC) and Powdered Activated Carbonud(PAC). AC was characterized with SEM and particle size analysis. The SEM picturesudof activated carbon particles showed enlargement of pore volume. The polluted waterudwas taken from Sg Galing, Kuantan and all eleven parameters has been tested whichudare pH, turbidity, Total Coliform, Total Dissolve Solids, COD, BOD 5, TotaludSuspended Solid, iron, zinc, chromium and cuprum. All the parameters wereudcompared with Malaysia Drinking Water Quality Standard. Sg Galing treated withudGAC and PAC show decrement in iron, zinc, chromium and cuprum concentration.udAccording to Malaysia Standard, the water is safe to be used for drinking.