SYNTHESIS OF BIOCARBON FROM Lantana camara L. LEAVES AND SEEDS FOR THE REMOVAL OF HEAVY METALS FROM WASTEWATER

Biomaterials have been used as biosorbents either in raw or chemically modified forms. The main aim of the present research work was to synthesize activated biocarbon from leaves and seeds of Lantana camara as biosorbent of heavy metals from wastewater effluent. The biocarbon was functionally characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR). The biosorbent potential of the biocarbon material was determined based on removal of heavy metal contaminants. The florifarm water sample was taken from Ziway lake. The experimental set up was 2 source biomaterials, two activating agents H2SO4 &FeCl3 and 2 water samples (effluent grey water discharge from florifarm waste and clean samples from lake Ziway) in completely randomized factorial experiments in two replications. Data were collected for measured parameters like physicochemical properties of the water samples, determination of heavy metals in water samples, the biocarbon adsorption capacity of heavy metal was evaluated by optimizing the effect of biocarbon dose, agitation speed and contact time on removal of Cadmium contaminant in water samples. The result of physicochemical properties of the waste water and clear lake water from Ziway lake indicated significantly higher pH (9.06), electrical conductivity EC (1148.25μS/cm), total dissolved solids TDS (860.02mg/L), and total suspended solids SS (45.42mg/L) for waste water sample. Waste water from floriculture industry has presented significantly the higher amount of all the tested metals including Cadmium Cd (10.71mg/L), LeadPb (15.04mg/L) and Zinc Zn (22.12mg/L). The increase in biocarbon dose from 1gm to 4gm was found to increase the removal of Cd from 48.48 to 89.62% for L. camara leaf biocarbon while seed biocarbon source resented rise in Cd adsorption from 44.67 to 77.14%. The effect of contact time on removal of Cd from waste water presented maximum adsorption of Cd (66.48%) for leaf source biocarbon, and maximum biosortption of Cd (58.67%) for seed source biocarbon at 3hr contact time. The effect of agitation speed on removal of Cd from waste water presented maximum adsorption of Cd (64.81%) for leaf source biocarbon, and maximum biosortption of Cd (52.%) for seed source biocarbon at 120rpm. The band pattern of functional group in fingerprinting region of FTIR analytes indicating presence of alcohol, polyphenol compound, amines grouplignocellulose, lignin which are responsible in synthesis and stabilization of biocarbon