Tabag, Kenneth John Anthony D March 2019

TITLE: Performance Evaluation of Corn Cob-Derived Activated Carbon on the Removal of Mercury and
Lead from Contaminated Water

INTRODUCTION

Background

The pollution caused by heavy metal ions, such as mercury (Hg) and lead (Pb) has become major
issue throughout many countries due to their possible toxic effects. The risk of mercury exposure, for
instance, may contribute to the adverse on central nervous system, pulmonary kidney functions and the
chromosomes (WHO, 2017) while lead may cause cardiovascular troubles, increase blood pressure and
incidence of hypertension (EPA.gov). Based on the 2014 Philippine Standard for Drinking Water,
maximum permissible limit of Hg and Pb in drinking water is 0.001 mg/L and 0.01 mg/L, respectively.

Hg and Pb are naturally occurring elements in the earth’s crust and are common water
contaminants; they are released into the environment through the excessive use of several industrial,
agricultural, domestic and technological application. Prominent sources are mining, foundries and
smelters and other metal-based industry. Since they naturally occurring earth crust’s they also deposits
in the sources of water such as ground waters and spring through metal corrosion, atmospheric
deposition and soil erosion, volcanic eruption and weathering are also reported sources based on Paul B
Tchounwou, Clement G Yedjou, Anita K Patlolla and Dwayne J Sutton, 2012. It also reported by Cortes-
Maramba, N. et al., on their paper entitled “ HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF MERCURY IN
THE PHILIPPINES USING NUCLEAR TECHNIQUES’’ that small-scale mining in Southern in the Philippines
utilized one kilogram of mercury per week, and it has been estimated that 140 tons of mercury flux has
been dump into the river systems from small-scale gold mining operation throughout the gold rush
areas in the country.

There are several ways that dissolved heavy metals can be removed from water that include ion
exchange, reverse osmosis, precipitation, ultrafiltration, electro dialysis and adsorption (Burton and
Tchnobanoglous, 1991). Most of them require high energy and advanced operations that are out of
reach to many low income earners. Consequently, new approaches based on the use of natural
inexpensive adsorbents such as orange peels and rice husk for treatment have been reported (Badmus
et al., 2007). In general, an adsorbent can be termed as a low cost adsorbent if it requires minor
processing, is abundant in nature, or is a by-product or waste material from another industry (Nasim et
al., 2004).Therefore there is a growing need for the development of new, innovative and cost effective
methods for the removal of heavy metals from waste water (Sayeda et al., 2010).

Corn production is the second most important crop in the Philippines next to rice, with one-third
of the Filipino farmers depending on corn as their major source of livelihood (Gerpacio, R.V. et al., 2004).
This means that more corn cobs are produce that ended up as landfills and farm waste. This study
explores possibilities of developing cheap and reliable water treatment adsorbent from corn cobs
derived products.

Activated carbon is an efficient and versatile adsorbent for purification of water, air and many
chemical and natural products. However, the usage of activated carbon is limited by its high preparation
cost. Previous studies on the use of various agricultural waste such as palm oil empty fruit bunch can
absorb up to 100% of mercury on water (Rafeah Wazi, et al., 2009), rice husk, it can remove up to 90.7%
of arsenic (Zunaira Asif and Zhi Chen, 2015), and palm oil shells that can remove water pollutants
(methylene blue etc.) up to 100% (Tanweer Ahmad, et al., 2011) as a raw material for activated carbon
can be reduced if these materials is used.
Tabag, Kenneth John Anthony D March 2019

Although corn cobs is highly regard as farm waste, it is utilize for some other purposes like for
cleaning purposes, corn cobs are used for sandblasting, polishing, paint removal from metal, fiberglass
and woods, and also grease removal. Dry corn cobs have a high absorption capacity, higher than clay,
and as such are used for spill clean ups (Grit O’Cobs, 2011).

Corn cob was chosen for the preparation of activated carbon. In this study, corn cob is subjected
to carbonization at high temperature then followed by gas activation using steam. The efficiency of an
adsorbent prepared from corn cobs in removing toxic metals, Hg and Pb are to be examined with the
parameters, contact time, shaking duration, temperature and heavy metal ion concentration.

Significance of the Study

Available water treatment methods are expensive. This leaves many Filipinos especially those
under poverty line vulnerable to water borne diseases hence spending so much money in treatment of
these diseases which includes cholera, typhoid and amoeba which are caused by microbes and those
caused by heavy metals like lung cancer. This study utilizes locally available material to make adsorbents
for water treatment. Environmental pollution brought about by these waste would be minimized.
Potential of the low cost adsorbent from corn cob-derived products to remove lead and mercury ions
from waste water will greatly help reducing the number of people affected by diseases causes by these
metals.

General Objective

The general objective was to determine the efficiency and capacity of corn cobs-derived
products for removal of mercury and lead ion from contaminated water

Statement of the problem

With rapid development in agriculture, industry, commerce, hospital and healthcare facilities,
there is large amount of hazardous waste being deposited in rivers and water bodies. Available water
treatment methods are expensive to low income earners. Due to increased industrialization, the rate of
water contamination is also increasing which is majorly caused by discharge from industries. Heavy
metals such as mercury and lead deposition to water sources causes contamination, it has hazardous
effects on health which make the available water unsafe for animals and human consumptions. These
heavy metals are therefore necessary to remove from contaminated water. Although corn is one of the
main subsistence crops grown in Philippines, very little is done to corn cobs after harvesting.
Consequently they pile up in our homesteads and end up as landfills and agricultural farm waste. This
project utilized corn cob-derived products as raw material in the preparation of activated charcoal for
cleaning contaminated water.

Scope and Limitation

The study is limited to Pb and Hg ions. The interfering ions and other elements effect are not
investigated. Also the study is limited to the usage of corn cob-derived products as one of the
agricultural waste and as a raw material for activated carbon.

Definition of terms