Agrotechnology

Carbonized kapok fibres as a potential adsorbent for removal of heavy metals

2^nd International Conference on Agricultural & Horticultural Sciences

Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel, Hyderabad, India February 03-05, 2014

Preethi B, Swati Sharma, Ankitha N and Nagashree N Rao

Posters: Agrotechnol

Abstract:

Ceiba pentandra is a tropical tree of the order Malvales and the family Malvaceae, which originated in tropical India, is found widespread in several plantations in Southeast Asia. Kapok is the most used common name for the tree and may also refer to the cotton obtained from its seed pods. Pressed seed oil can be derived from the seeds of the kapok tree. The oil has a yellow color and a pleasant, mild odour and taste. Kapok oil has some potential as a bio-fuel and in paint preparation. The removal of heavy metal contaminants from aqueous solutions is one of the most important environmental concerns because metals are bio-refractory and are toxic to many life forms. The high cost of commercially available activated carbon limits its use as an adsorbent in developing countries. Hence, there is a growing need to prepare activated carbon from cheaper and locally available bio-waste materials. Kapok fibers revealed that activated carbon prepared from the hulls of C. pentandra has good capacity for the sorption of Cd, Pb, Zn and Cu. Natural kapok fibers were compared with the activated carbonized kapok fibers to adsorb standard heavy metals (chromium and cadmium). Standard solutions of chromium and cadmium were prepared and calibrated to study adsorption of heavy metals using atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Seeds are the primary stage of plant life cycle they have strong defense mechanism possibly due to the presence of phyto-constituents contributing to antioxidant activity. Kapok oil was extracted from the seeds by re-flexing with hexane using Soxhlet Extraction method. After the completion of the extraction process, the oil was recovered from the mixture by distillation and evaluated by Gas Chromatography which revealed the fatty acids presence similar to that of edible oil (groundnut, sunflower) showing the properties of Antimicrobial and Antioxidant activity.

Biography :

Preethi B is doing BE Biotechnology final year from R V College of Engineering. She is keen on working related to Agriculture and Technology. Her current project is related Kapok fibres and its characteristics.