Trivalent chromium removal from aqueous solution with physically and chemically modified corncob waste

In this study, activated carbon synthesised from corncob waste was utilised as an adsorbent to remove Cr(III) from aqueous solution. The adsorption behaviour of Cr(III) was studied under different conditions, including solution pH, and metal concentration. Ground corncobs were modified with sulphuric acid and phosphoric acid, and the activated carbons were modified by thermal treatment to analyse the adsorption capacity of Cr(III). Results showed that Cr(III) adsorption On the activated carbons obtained from corncobs are pH-dependent and thermal treatment dependent. The maximum Cr(III) adsorption capacity q(max) calculated from the Langmuir isotherm was 84.5463 mg/g from the activated carbon TM8. The SEM and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) analysis showed the development and modification of porosity in the different samples. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.