Production and Research of Sorbents From Food Plant Wastes for Water Purification

The article describes the results of research on production of modified types of sorbents based on waste food plants and the possibility of drinking water purification from Ca 2 + and Mg 2+ ions. Sunflower and buckwheat wastes widely spread in the East Kazakhstan region were selected for production of modified sorbent. Structural features of sunflower and buckwheat shells were studied. It was found that samples of the initial form of buckwheat and sunflower, washed with distilled water, consist of very dense and small micropores. It was found that the surface of the sorbents particles is changed by washing with alcohol solution, with pores and hillocks appearing on the surface of sunflower husk particles. In acid-base-treated sorbents, an increase in the number of macropores and a change in the general morphological structure are observed. As a result of defining the sorption capacity of sorbents produced by acid-alkaline activation, it is on average 0.06 mg/g in iodine and 1.3 mg/g in methylene blue higher than that of medical activated carbon. The results of materials sorption capacity study produced from sunflower husk, sequentially treated with 8.2% hydrochloric acid solution and 16,5% sodium hydroxide solution, indicated effect respect to Ca 2+ and Mg 2+ ions showed a high purification effect of 98.7% and 95.8%, respectively. The above-mentioned modified sorbent is proposed as a sorption material in the production of filters for drinking water purification.