Use of activated carbon produced from seed of avocado in water decontamination

• Grant number: 13/07925-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: July 01, 2013
• End date: June 30, 2014
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Chemical Engineering - Chemical Technology
• Principal Investigator: Leandro Cardoso de Morais
• Grantee: Twyla Vieira Hadich
• Host Institution: Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus Experimental de Sorocaba. Sorocaba , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Brazil is the fourth largest avocado producer and third largest consumer. Therefore, developing new uses for waste generated from the consumption of this fruit is of great importance. Thus, this study aims to obtain charcoal from the seed of avocado (CSA), which corresponds to approximately 18% of the total weight of the fruit. To produce the CSA, avocado pits are dried in an oven at 110°C and pyrolyzed at 250ºC, 350ºC, and 450ºC. After obtaining the CSA will be tested on the sorption of toxic metals such as Al, Cu, and Zn contained in aqueous solutions of known concentrations. The analysis will be performed by ICP-OES. (AU)