SYNTHESIS OF ACTIVATED CARBON QUANTUM DOTS FROM SUGARCANE BAGASSE FOR REMOVAL OF DIESEL OIL IN WATER
Abstract
This study focuses on synthesizing activated carbon quantum dots (ACQDs) from sugarcane bagasse to create an eco-friendly solution for diesel oil removal from contaminated water. Diesel oil spills are harmful, and existing remediation methods lack sustainability. Using sugarcane bagasse addresses both environmental and waste management concerns by converting agricultural by-products into effective nanomaterials. The ACQDs were characterized through FTIR, SEM, UV-Vis, and XRD, which revealed a high surface area and functional groups facilitating diesel oil adsorption. Batch adsorption experiments tested various factors, such as adsorbent dosage, contact time, pH, and agitation speed. The ACQDs removed up to 99.99% of diesel oil under optimal conditions. The highest adsorption capacity occurred at a 2 g dosage, with higher dosages leading to saturation and underutilized adsorption sites. Equilibrium was reached within 15-20 minutes, while acidic conditions improved adsorption efficiency due to surface protonation. Increased agitation speed and time also boosted adsorption performance. Overall, the study highlights ACQDs as an efficient, sustainable, and cost-effective material for diesel oil removal and water pollution control.
Full-Text Access Notice
In accordance with the NERD Policy on promoting peer-reviewed publication, public access to the full text of a project, thesis or dissertation is restricted for three years, allowing the author and supervisors sufficient time to pursue peer-reviewed publication.
During this period, researchers with legitimate academic or research purposes may request authorisation directly from the author to enable NERD to release the indexed full texts of the work using the form below.