Rajith Perera

@inproceedings{Sakunthala2024b,

title = {Optimization of Rice Husk-Derived Activated Carbon for Efficient Methylene Blue Adsorption: Kinetics and Equilibrium Studies},

author = {KADD Sakunthala and PLRA Perera and WPRT Perera and JA Liyanage and WAPJ Premaratne},

url = {https://www.researchgate.net/publication/381638302_Optimization_of_Rice_Husk-Derived_Activated_Carbon_for_Efficient_Methylene_Blue_Adsorption_Kinetics_and_Equilibrium_Studies

https://fct.ichemc.ac.lk/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/FCT-2-Conference-Proceedings.pdf

https://rajithperera.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Conference-Proceedings-FCT-02-142.pdf},

year  = {2024},

date = {2024-06-21},

urldate = {2024-06-21},

volume = {2},

number = {091},

issue = {2024},

pages = {117},

publisher = {International Conference on Frontiers in Chemical Technology},

organization = {Institute of Chemistry Ceylon },

abstract = {Synthetic dyes are indispensable in various industries, yet their toxicity necessitates efficient wastewater treatment. Activated carbon (AC) plays a crucial role in this regard. This study aimed to optimize AC from rice husk through method optimization and to investigate its methylene blue (MB) adsorption potential. Method optimization for AC synthesis involved varying parameters: HCl concentrations (5, 15, 30% v/v), soaking times (12, 24, 48 h), activation temperatures (400, 600, 800 °C), and activation times (60, 120, 180 min). Then, yield was calculated for each sample. AC samples prepared were introduced into MB solution and agitated for 60 min. Post-centrifugation, dye concentration in the supernatant was measured at 15 min intervals using a UV-Vis spectrophotometer at 664 nm, enabling the determination of MB removal percentages. The optimal method involved treating rice husk with HCl (5% v/v) for 24 h, followed by washing with DI water, drying, and pyrolysis at 400 °C for 2 h. This AC variant exhibited the highest MB removal. The surface morphology and the elemental composition of this AC variant was examined by scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive spectroscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. In batch adsorption, the effects of experimental parameters, such as initial MB concentration, adsorbent dose, pH and shaking time, on MB adsorption to AC were evaluated at room temperature. Results indicated the highest MB removal percentage with AC (0.05 g), concentration of MB (5 mg L-1), pH (7), and shaking time (60 min). Further, the equilibrium adsorption data were analyzed by the Langmuir and the Freundlich isotherm models. Among the two isotherms, the Langmuir isotherm (R2 = 0.9981) is better fitted with data having a maximum adsorption capacity (Qmax) of 20.88 mg g-1. Adsorption kinetics analysis suggests that the pseudo-second order model best fits the data, indicating a chemical sorption mechanism governing the adsorption process. Based on the results, it can be concluded that AC is an efficient and cost-effective adsorbent for dye removal from industrial wastewater.},

keywords = {Activated carbon, Methylene blue, Rice Husk, wastewater},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {inproceedings}

}

@inproceedings{perera2019preparationb,

title = {Preparation, Characterization and Evaluation of Lead Adsorption Efficiency of Chitosan Coated Activated Carbon},

author = {PLRA Perera and CSK Rajapakse},

url = {https://www.researchgate.net/publication/339133101_Preparation_Characterization_and_Evaluation_of_Lead_Adsorption_Efficiency_of_Chitosan_Coated_Activated_Carbon},

doi = {http://dx.doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.11827962.v1},

year  = {2019},

date = {2019-12-01},

urldate = {2019-01-01},

booktitle = {International Postgraduate Research Conference(IPRC)},

publisher = {University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka},

abstract = {Heavy metal contamination in various water resources is of great concern because of the toxic effect on human beings and other animals and plants in the environment. Lead is a major element which is released to the environment including water bodies by many industries and it is well known that the presence of Pb(II) in water, even at very low concentrations, is extremely harmful to the human. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the Pb adsorption potential of chitosan coated activated carbon derived from rice husk (CCAC) in aqueous media. First, chitin was extracted from shrimp shell wastes by following a standard procedure and it was deacetylated to obtain chitosan (deacetylation percentage = 82%). In the preparation of activated carbon from rice husk, HCl acid (5 % v/v) was used as the activating agent. The adsorbent of the study, CCAC was then prepared by coating activated carbon derived from rice husk (20.00 g) with chitosan (3.00 g dissolved in 1% v/v acetic acid) to improve the stability and mechanical strength of chitosan. The surface morphology and the elemental composition of CCAC was examined by Scanning Electron Microscopy & Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (SEM/EDAX). The novel adsorbent was further characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR). In order to determine the Pb adsorption potential of CCAC, batch adsorption studies were conducted at room temperature at pH 7. The effects of various experimental parameters such as initial Pb (II) concentration, dose of adsorbent and shaking time on Pb adsorption to CCAC were evaluated. According to the results, the maximum lead removal percentage (89%) was observed at initial Pb (II) concentration of 2 ppm, adsorbent dosage of 1 g/L and 120 minutes of shaking time. Further, the equilibrium adsorption data were analyzed by the Langmuir isotherm model and the Freundlich isotherm model for Pb adsorption onto CCAC. Among the two models, Langmuir isotherm best fitted with the equilibrium data (R2= 0.9916) with a maximum adsorption capacity (q0) of 24.39 mg/g. Based on the results, it can be concluded that CCAC can be considered as an efficient and cost-effective adsorbent for the removal of heavy metals such as Pb from industrial wastewater.},

keywords = {Activated carbon, Chitosan, Pb removal, wastewater},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {inproceedings}

}

@inproceedings{perera2019preparation,

title = {Preparation, characterization and properties of activated carbon derived from rice husk},

author = {PLRA Perera and C. S. K. Rajapakse},

url = {https://www.researchgate.net/publication/336823780_Preparation_characterization_and_properties_of_activated_carbon_derived_from_rice_husk},

doi = {http://dx.doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.10052615.v1},

year  = {2019},

date = {2019-10-01},

urldate = {2019-01-01},

booktitle = {The International Research Symposium on Pure and Applied Sciences (IRSPAS) 2019},

pages = {145},

abstract = {Rice, the staple food of the Sri Lankans is one of the important crops occupying 34% of the total cultivated area in the country. Thus, rice processing generates a large quantity of rice husk, as waste material. Therefore, the main objective of the present work was to investigate the potential of using this agricultural waste, rice husk as a precursor for the production of low-cost activated carbon (AC) as an adsorbent for the removal of heavy metals (Pb (II), Cd (II) etc.). Therefore, the present study was carried out to evaluate the effect of carbonization time and activating agent on AC production from rice husk and its Pb (II) removal capacity. Cleaned and dried rice husks samples (12.00 g) were separately carbonized at 400 °C under constant nitrogen flow for 60 minutes -150 minutes (60 min, 90 min, 120 min, 150 min) and chemically activated by HCl. The AC yield was calculated in each sample and duplicate using standard equations. In order to determine the lead removal percentages (Pb%) of AC derived from rice husk at different carbonized temperatures, first AC samples were added (1.00 g) separately to a Pb(II) standard solution (5.00 mg L-1), stirred for 1 hour at pH 7 at room temperature. The solutions were filtered and the residual Pb was determined by Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry (AAS). Further, the AC with the highest Pb removal capacity was characterized by Scanning Electron Microscopy & Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (SEM/EDAX), and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR), Proximate analysis, of the AC were also studied. The percent yield of AC prepared from rice husk with HCl activation, and its corresponding %Pb removal potential were fluctuated with increasing carbonization time. The highest AC yield (20.50%), the highest %Pb removal (93.31%) was observed for the AC prepared by carbonization of rice husk at 400 °C for 120 minutes with HCl activation. The results of the proximate analysis revealed that the ash content, moisture content volatile matter content and fixed carbon content of the AC were 32.47%, 34.94%, 24.20%, and 8.39% respectively. Based on the results, it can be concluded that AC derived from rice husk can be considered as an efficient and cost-effective adsorbent for the removal Pb from wastewater},

keywords = {Activated carbon, Pb removal, Rice Husk, wastewater},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {inproceedings}

}