Academic Publications
My Publications
2024
Sakunthala, KADD; Perera, PLRA; Perera, WPRT; Liyanage, JA; Premaratne, WAPJ
Optimization of Rice Husk-Derived Activated Carbon for Efficient Methylene Blue Adsorption: Kinetics and Equilibrium Studies Proceedings Article
In: pp. 117, Institute of Chemistry Ceylon International Conference on Frontiers in Chemical Technology, 2024.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Activated carbon, Methylene blue, Rice Husk, wastewater
@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}
}
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.
2023
Perera, WPRT; Perera, PLRA; Liyanage, JA; Kumarasinghe, AR
Advancements in multifunctional core-shell adsorbent comprising graphene oxide/ sand for adsorptive removal of water contaminants Proceedings Article
In: pp. 34, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka International Postgraduate Research Conference (IPRC), Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2023.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Adsorption, CKDu, Contamination, Estimated Daily Intake (EDI), Grains, Graphene oxide, Heavy metals, Methylene blue, Water hardness
@inproceedings{Perera2023d,
title = {Advancements in multifunctional core-shell adsorbent comprising graphene oxide/ sand for adsorptive removal of water contaminants},
author = {WPRT Perera and PLRA Perera and JA Liyanage and AR Kumarasinghe},
url = {https://www.researchgate.net/publication/377600187_Advancements_in_multifunctional_core-shell_adsorbent_comprising_graphene_oxide_sand_for_adsorptive_removal_of_water_contaminants
https://conf.kln.ac.lk/iprc/media/attachments/2024/01/23/abstract-volume-2023.pdf},
year = {2023},
date = {2023-11-24},
urldate = {2023-11-24},
volume = {23},
number = {25},
issue = {2023},
pages = {34},
publisher = {International Postgraduate Research Conference (IPRC)},
address = {Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka},
organization = {University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka},
abstract = {Our study introduces a novel approach to enhance the efficiency of water treatment by developing a porous material (M-GO/S) that combines graphite oxide (GO) with river sand overcoming the limitations of conventional granular media filtration. Synthesized M-GO/S was finally characterized by X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) after primary characterization via X-ray diffraction (XRD), FT-IR, Ramen, and Scanning Electron Microscopic images (SEM). The adsorptive removal efficiency of M-GO/S on selected toxic metals (Pb, Cr, Cd, and Ni), calcium, and methylene blue dye was investigated under the optimum conditions. The findings reveal the presence of a non-uniform graphene oxide coating on the surface of the sand. The incorporation of oxygenated functional moieties within the structure observed according to the comprehensive analysis of the Carbon 1s (C 1s) spectra of the M-GO/S sample in XPS spectrums and revealed the existence of four distinct carbon species exhibiting binding energies at 284.8 eV, 287.05 eV, and 288.85 eV. These carbon species were identified as C-C/C-H, CO , and COO (epoxy) functional groups, respectively. The adsorption capacities of Pb, Cr, Cd, and Ni were recorded as; 52.2 mg/g, 21.9 mg/g, 38.1 mg/g, and 21.9 mg/g respectively. Under the optimum conditions, the sand/GO nanocomposite demonstrated remarkable efficacy in removing 75% of calcium ions (elevated removal percentage than commercial coal powdered activated carbon) from simulated hard water. Apart from that, under the optimum conditions, M/GO-S was able to mitigate 95% of methylene blue which was identified as a toxic dye from the water. Therefore, based on its versatile characteristics as a multifunctional porous material, the synthesized graphene oxide-sand nanocomposite (M-GO/S) demonstrates significant potential as a viable solution for the treatment of contaminated water.},
keywords = {Adsorption, CKDu, Contamination, Estimated Daily Intake (EDI), Grains, Graphene oxide, Heavy metals, Methylene blue, Water hardness},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {inproceedings}
}
Our study introduces a novel approach to enhance the efficiency of water treatment by developing a porous material (M-GO/S) that combines graphite oxide (GO) with river sand overcoming the limitations of conventional granular media filtration. Synthesized M-GO/S was finally characterized by X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) after primary characterization via X-ray diffraction (XRD), FT-IR, Ramen, and Scanning Electron Microscopic images (SEM). The adsorptive removal efficiency of M-GO/S on selected toxic metals (Pb, Cr, Cd, and Ni), calcium, and methylene blue dye was investigated under the optimum conditions. The findings reveal the presence of a non-uniform graphene oxide coating on the surface of the sand. The incorporation of oxygenated functional moieties within the structure observed according to the comprehensive analysis of the Carbon 1s (C 1s) spectra of the M-GO/S sample in XPS spectrums and revealed the existence of four distinct carbon species exhibiting binding energies at 284.8 eV, 287.05 eV, and 288.85 eV. These carbon species were identified as C-C/C-H, CO , and COO (epoxy) functional groups, respectively. The adsorption capacities of Pb, Cr, Cd, and Ni were recorded as; 52.2 mg/g, 21.9 mg/g, 38.1 mg/g, and 21.9 mg/g respectively. Under the optimum conditions, the sand/GO nanocomposite demonstrated remarkable efficacy in removing 75% of calcium ions (elevated removal percentage than commercial coal powdered activated carbon) from simulated hard water. Apart from that, under the optimum conditions, M/GO-S was able to mitigate 95% of methylene blue which was identified as a toxic dye from the water. Therefore, based on its versatile characteristics as a multifunctional porous material, the synthesized graphene oxide-sand nanocomposite (M-GO/S) demonstrates significant potential as a viable solution for the treatment of contaminated water.