Optimization of the Production of Ethylene Di-Amine Tetra-Acetic Acid Modified Activated Carbon using Palm Kernel Shell for the Adsorption of Copper ion

Biomass-based activated carbon has received large attention due to its excellent characteristics such as inexpensiveness, good absorption behaviour, and potential to reduce strong dependence towards non-renewable precursors. The potential use of Palm Kernel Shell in modified activated carbon was evaluated by using the Response Surface Methodology. In this study, a 23 three-level Central Composite Design (CCD) was used to develop a statistical model for the optimization of process variables, contact time (10-130mins) X1, pH (5.0 – 8.0) X2, and adsorbent dose (0.4 -5.0g) X3. The investigation shows that Ethylene Di-Amine Tetra-Acetic Acid modified activated carbon prepared from Palm Kernel Shell is a promising adsorbent for the removal of copper ions from aqueous solutions over a wide range of concentrations with an optimized efficiency of 99% at the solution pH of 7.2, contact time of 70 minutes and adsorbent dose of 2.1g/L. The adsorption results are in line with the linear and quadratic model representation, which is evident from the models for optimization of copper ions.