Production of Activated Carbon From Cow Bone for the Purification of Water

Some quantities of cow bones were collected Oghara Abattoir along Oghara-Benin Express way, Oghara, Delta State, Nigeria.Upon collection, they were washed and air dried.This was followed by aching with the aid of a muffle furnace at a temperature of 700 0 C for 2 hours in the absence of air.The resulting ached substance was tested for the presence of moisture, ash, and selected elements (sodium, potassium, nickel, cobalt and lead).The properties of water were determined before and after being treated with the activated carbon.Results of analyses the activated carbon showed moisture content (0.14%), ached content (11.86%), sodium (0.38mg/kg), potassium (0.21mg/kg), nickel (0.17mg/kg), lead (0.23mg/kg) and cobalt (0.12mg/kg).Result of elements before and after treatment with the activated carbon showed sodium (22.56mg/L), potassium (28.44 mg/L), nickel (1.35 mg/L), lead (0.08 mg/L) and cobalt (0.15 mg/L) and sodium (16.15 mg/L), potassium (20.65 mg/L), nickel (0.13 mg/L0.01),lead (0.01 mg/L) and cobalt (0.04 mg/L) respectively.The study therefore indicates that carbonized cow bone would be effective as adsorbents with regards to their moisture and ash content and in the removal of impurities from water as the case may be