1Department of Chemistry, Delta State Uiversity, Abraka, Delta State, Nigeria
2Department of Chemistry, Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Edo State, Nigerian.
*E-mail: Akporhonor@yahoo.com
Maize cob carbon was prepared by pyrolysis at 300°C and 400°C for 35 minutes. This was followed by steeping in saturated ammonium chloride. The activated carbon which was characterized for bulk density, surface area, surface area charge, abrasion resistance and pH was used in the removal of Cd2+ (31.4), N12+ (13.6) and Cd2+ (10.1) and at 400°C are Zn2+ (20.4), N12+ (14.6) and Cd2+ (10.2) respectively. The surface areas of the maize cob carbon at 300°C and 400°C are 0.010g and 0.021g sample per mg iodine respectively. The effectiveness of the modified maize cobs in removing the metal ions from solution was found to be Zn >Ni> Cd. The removal efficiency of the metal ions is depended on the metal ion concentration and temperature of carbonization.
