PYROLYSIS AND CHARACTERIZATION OF COAL AS PRECURSOR FOR POROUS CARBON IN THE PURIFICATION OF PETROCHEMICAL WASTEWATER

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1 PYROLYSIS AND CHARACTERIZATION OF COAL AS PRECURSOR FOR POROUS CARBON IN THE PURIFICATION OF PETROCHEMICAL WASTEWATER By AGAMA GODWIN (2005/21707EH) DEPARTMENT OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING, FEDERAL UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY, MINNA NIGERIA NOVEMBER, 2010

2 PYROLYSIS AND CHARACTERIZATION OF COAL AS PRECURSOR FOR POROUS CARBON IN THE PURIFICATION OF PETROCHEMICAL WASTEWATER By AGAMA GODWIN (200S/21707EH) A PROJECT SUBMITTED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING, FEDERAL UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY, MINNA NIGERIA I IN PARTIAL FULFll..MENTOF THE REQUlRtMENTFOR THE AWARD OF BACHELOR OF ENGINEERING (B. ENG) DEGREE IN CHEMICAL ENGINEERING NOVEMBER,

3 Declaration I declare that the work in the project report entitled "Pyrolysis and. characterization of coal as precursor for porous carbon in the purification of petrochemical wastewater" has been performed by me under the supervision of En gr. P.E. Dim. No part oftbis project report is presented for another degree or diploma elsewhere to the best of my knowledge. Name of student Signature Date iii

4 Certification This is to certify that this project report "PYItOL YSIS AND CHARACTERIZATION OF COAL AS PRECURSOR FOR POROUS CARBON IN THE PURIFICATION OF PETROCHEMICAL W ASTEWAT.EK' by Agama Godwin meets the requirements for the partial fulfillment of the award of Bachelor of Engineering (B.Eng) degree in Chemical Engineering, Federal University of Technology, Minna. Project Supervisor Date (Bngr. P.E. Dim) Head of Department Date (proff. Aberuagba) External Examiner Date lv

5 AcknowledgemeDt I thank God Almighty fur sparing my life throughout the course of this research work and also for granting me the knowledge to achieve a lot at the end of the study. My sincere gratitude also goes to my mother (Mrs. Helen Agama) and all my family members for their support and encouragement and also to my project supervisor Engr. P.E. Dim for his, professional assistance and for his careful supervision throughout the period of this research work. Finally, I would also like to acknowledge the family of Mr. and Mrs. R.K. Yusuf for their support towards the success of my undergraduate study. v

6 DedieatioB I dedicate this report to OOD Almighty the provider of all wisdom, knowledge and understanding and also to my mother Mrs.. HELEN AGAMA who supported me both morally and fmancially, my father Mr. JOSEPH AGAMA (late) who had always wanted the best for me and finally to au my family members and my mends who have in one way or the other contributed to the success of this research work. VI

7 Abstract Pyrolysis and characterization of Enugu coal as precursor for porous carbon in the purification of petrochemical wastewater was investigated. The research work was aimed at carbonizing and chemically activating Enugu coal and there after developing a characterized activated carbon that is most desirable, and has bigh porosity at reduced cost for petrochemical wastewater purification using coal as precursor. Raw coal samples were collected in sack from Enugu coal mines,enugu state, Nigeria. The sample was washed and thereafter crushed to a sieve size ranging from mm. The coal sample was carbonized at four different temperatures (150, 800, 850, 900 e) and then activated using three different activating agents (potassium hydroxide, hydrochloric acid and equimolar mixture of both activating agents). The activated carbon was characterized in terms of yield, ash content, bulk density, pore volume and iodine number. The characterized activated carbon was then used in the purification of dye emuent and properties of the dye efiluent such as; ph, density, biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), turbidity and total solids were analyzed before and after treatment of the dye emuent with the activated carbon at 28 C. From the results obtained, carbonization tempernture and activating agent seems to be the most important factors that influence the iodine number of activated carbon. The iodine number of the carbon produced by KOB activation was as bigh as mg/g, at a maximum pyrolysis temperature of900 C, with Hel and equimolar mixture (KOH + HCI) having mg/g and mglg respectively_ The biochemical oxygen demand of the dye efiluent was reduced from 370 mg/dm 3 before treatment by KOH activation to mg/dm 3 at 900 C carbonization temperature, indicating 87 % reduction. Finally~ from the experimental information gathered, it has been shown in this study that granular activated carbon from Enugu coal can effectively remove organic and inorganic pollutants from petrochemical wastewater (dye effluent) before discharging into the river. Vll

8 Table of COlltellts Page Title page... ii Declaration... iii Certification... iv Acknowledgement... v Dedication.,...,...,... vi Abstract... vii Table of content...,...,... viii List of tables... xii List of figures...,... xiv List of appendices...,... xv Nomenclature... xvi Chapter ODe 1.0 Introduction Aim and objectives Approach Justification Study constraint viii

9 Chapter Two 2.0 Literature review..., Coal..., Historical background of coal Coal formation Types of coal Uses of coal ' Early use Uses today... "... " Environmental effect of coal Economic aspects of coal Energy density of coal Carbon intensity of coal Pyrolysis...,..., Activated carbon Classifications of activated carbon Properties of activated C8l'OOn Iodine number Molasses Tannin...,..., Methylene blue Dechlorination Apparent density IX

10 Hardness/abrasion number Ash content Particle size distribution Applications of activated carbon.,...,...,..., Criteria for coal based activated carbon..., Picking a carbon Adsorption capacity of activated carbon...,...,..., Characterization of activated carbon Wastewater treatment Process routes using coal as raw material for production of activated carbon Crushing, grinding, and oxidation Briquetting and extrusion...,...,.., Chapter Three 3.0 Methodology Materials and equipment..., Materials Equipment...,...,..., Satnple collection Proximate analysis of raw coal Determination of moisture Determination of volatile matter..., Determination of ash content..., Determination of fixed carbon x

11 3.4 Experimental procedure for coal activation..., Carbonization..., Chemical activation Experimental Procedures for Characterization...,...,...,..., of Granulated Activated Carbon Determination of ash content Determination ofbujk density Determination of pore volume Determination of particle siz.e Determination of iodine number Standardization of iodine solution... '"..., Determination of iodmeoomber using the &Ctrvatoo carbon... ' Measured properties duringpurificatiollofwastewater Purification dye eflluent sample..., Determination of ph Determination of turbidity..., Determination of appearance Determination of density Determination of total solids...,..., Determination ofbiochemica1 oxygen demand Determination of dissolved gases and dissolved oxygen Calculation of biochemical oxygen demand Xl