Removal of dye from textile effluent using activated carbon from Kenaf fiber and rubber wood sawdust produced by microwave processing

Textile wastewater is hard to treat because they are originate from multi processes which produce multi segments of wastewater. Expansive measure of suspended solids, high color and high chemical oxygen demand of the wastewater can cause serious ecological issues. Adsorption is a compelling technique for bringing down the convergence of dissolved dyes in the effluent resulting in colour removal. Thus, there is a developing enthusiasm for utilizing material such as agricultural by-product for instance, rubber wood sawdust since they are abundantly available and kenaf fibre. The crude materials, kenaf core fibre (KCF) and rubber wood sawdust (RWS) were carbonized for an hour at 500oC, soaked in H3PO4 and activated by microwave processing with input power of 500 W and irradiation time of 6 min. Impregnation of RWAC and KFAC with CuO powder was carried out through solid state reaction of mechanochemical activation processing followed by carbothermal reduction. 0.4 g of activated carbon produced from KFAC and RWAC of 60% acid loading were used to treat 50ml of effluent textile wastewater with the pH of 11.2 with 4 different contact time. The optimum contact time was 90 minutes then used to test the best dosage of activated carbon for adsorption of dye in effluent wastewater. 2.0g of KFAC and RWAC then used to treat 50 ml of effluent wastewater for 90 minutes to study the best pH for dye adsorption. The best pH was pH 3. Then the best parameters from the treatment then used to treat wastewater with CuO assisted KFAC and RWAC. CuO assisted activated carbon proven can enhance reaction activity. The study shows that microwave heating is an effective and facilitate method which can be used for preparation of activated carbon and the effectiveness of activated carbon produced by microwave processing proven can be use to remove dye from textile wastewater.