Abstract

Utilization of agricultural waste in the production of valuable products can promote the national efforts in minimizing serious public health risks from exposure to dangerous fumes that result from burning in open fields at the end of every harvest season. An agricultural waste, namely cotton stalks, was chosen for developing a cost effective process for the production of activated carbon using bench equipment at laboratory scale, and typical industrial equipment at pilot scale. Findings show that the pilot scale production trial was successful in terms of equipments chosen and quality of activated carbon produced. Physical and pore analysis showed that the produced carbon is comparable to commercial carbons with respect to surface area, pore volume, particle density, buk density, and in possessing a high percentage of micropores that exceeds 90% of the total surface area. Absorption studies conducted in completely mixed batch system demonstrated the ability of produced carbon to absorb lead, an important pollutant, from water in a pH range below that of precipitation and at a high percentage of removal after an equilibrium time of 72 hours. Continuous flow columns studies confirmed the affinity of carbon for lead, revealed by the number of break through bed volumes which were considerably higher than commercial carbons for the same lead solution concentrate, empty bed contact time, and hydraulic loading rate.

Department

Interdisciplinary Engineering Program

Degree Name

Master of Science in Engineering

Date of Award

Fall 4-26-2006

Online Submission Date

4-26-2006

First Advisor

Edward Smith

Committee Member 1

Badie Salama Girgis

Committee Member 2

Emad Imam

Document Type

Thesis

Extent

125 leaves :

Library of Congress Subject Heading 1

Agricultural wastes

Library of Congress Subject Heading 2

Cotton stalks

Library of Congress Subject Heading 3

activated carbon

Rights

The author retains all rights with regard to copyright. The author certifies that written permission from the owner(s) of third-party copyrighted matter included in the thesis, dissertation, paper, or record of study has been obtained. The author further certifies that IRB approval has been obtained for this thesis, or that IRB approval is not necessary for this thesis. Insofar as this thesis, dissertation, paper, or record of study is an educational record as defined in the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) (20 USC 1232g), the author has granted consent to disclosure of it to anyone who requests a copy.

IRB

Not necessary for this item

Call Number

Thesis 2006/4

Location

uarch

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