Abstract

Filtration of most health related media involving microbes requires the use of a device that is compatible with nature. The current study synthesised, characterised and evaluated the filtration potential of a selected agricultural waste as a green filter to mitigate the menace of dangerous microbes. The methodology entailed mechanical sizing of sugarcane-bagasse into small pieces followed by oven drying, ball-milling, sieving and carbonisation at temperatures varied from 600 – 800 0C. The carbonised ash was later chemically activated using sulfuric acid and potassium hydroxide. Characterisation and evaluation of the activated ashes were performed using analytical tools including x-ray fluorescence (XRF), x-ray diffractometer (XRD), scanning electron microscope/energy dispersive x-ray (SEM/EDX) and Brunauer Emmett Teller (BET) analysis. Results of XRF analysis show that the sodium hydroxide activated sugarcane bagasse ash at 600 0C exhibited 49.8 wt. % silica followed by 12.7 wt. % alumina and lime, 8.6 wt. %). The XRD result revealed the presence of phytochemicals while the SEM micrographs show mainly varied morphologies of quartz crystals as the EDX results yielded varied elemental compositions including carbon, potassium and chromium. The BET analysis results show BET adsorption surface area of 5.05 x 102 m2/g, pores volume fraction of 4.14 x 10-1cc/g and filtration efficiency of 2.9 nm pores dispersion. These results compared well with the global standards specified for filters used in health related aqueous media. It is concluded that the developed material has a promising filtration potential and a boost to a cleaner environment.

Key words: Activated carbon, carbonised sugarcane bagasse, chemical activation, filtration