Adsorptive Treatment of Fiberboard Wastewater Using Activated Carbon Synthesized from Oil Palm Petioles

The fiberboard industry generates significant amounts of wastewater laden with heavy metals and organic pollutants, necessitating the development of effective and sustainable treatment solutions. This study investigates the physicochemical characteristics of wastewater from fiberboard processing and evaluates the potential of oil palm petiole-derived activated carbon (OPP-AC) for heavy metal adsorption. The wastewater exhibited elevated concentrations of manganese (14.5 mg/L), iron (53.9 mg/L), and zinc (7.68 mg/L), alongside an acidic pH of 4.6. OPP-AC was synthesized and characterized for its lignocellulosic composition, thermal stability, surface morphology, porosity, and functional groups. Adsorption studies indicated that samples 10KOH480 and 15HNO480, prepared at 480°C using KOH and HNO3 as activating agents respectively, were effective in adsorbing heavy metals. In particular, 10KOH480 showed excellent performance, achieving removal efficiencies of 97.02% for Mn, 91.05% for Fe, and 81.1% for Zn under optimal conditions. Adsorption behavior followed the Freundlich isotherm model and pseudo-second-order kinetics, suggesting multilayer adsorption and chemisorption processes. These findings demonstrate that OPP-AC is a promising, low-cost, and eco-friendly adsorbent for treating heavy metal-contaminated industrial effluent.