Extraction of humic acid from sediment obtained from Eniong River, Nigeria

Table of Contents

1 INTRODUCTION

Background of Study

2 EXPERIMENTAL

2.1 Description of Study Area

2.2 Collection of Samples

2.3 Determination of Physical Properties and Nutrient Availability in River Sediment

2.3.1 Particle Size Analysis by Hydrometer Method

2.3.2 Determination of pH

2.3.3 Determination of Electrical Conductivity (EC)

2.3.4 Determination of Organic Carbon/Organic Matter by Walkley-Black Wet Oxidation Method

2.3.5 Determination of Exchange Acidity by 1M KC1 Method

2.3.6 Determination of Exchangeable Bases (Ca, Mg, Na, K)

2.3.7 Determination of Available Phosphorus Using Bray P1 Method

2.4 Preparation of Sample for Adsorption Process

2.4.1 Extraction of Humic Acid from a River Sediment

2.4.2 Purification of Aldrich Humic Acid (Reference HA)

2.4.3 Determination of HA Yield

2.4.4 Preparation of Aqueous MB Solution

2.5 Analytical Procedures

2.5.1 Characterization of HA using UV-Visible Spectroscopy

2.5.2 Characterization of HA Using FTIR

2.5.3 Determination of Surface Properties by Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET)

3 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

3.1 Results

3.1.1 Physicochemical Parameters and Nutrient Availability in River Sediment

3.2 Yield of Extracted Humic Acid

4.3 Surface Area and Porosity Property of Extracted Humic Acid

3.4 Characterization of Extracted Humic Acid

3.4.1 UV-visible Characterization of Humic Acid

4.4.2 Degree of Humification and Condensation for Aldrich and extracted HAs

4.4.3 FTIR Spectra of Humic Acids

4 CONCLUSION

Research Objectives and Themes

The primary research objective is to investigate the feasibility of using humic acid extracted from the sediments of the Eniong River, Nigeria, as a cost-effective adsorbent for the removal of dyes from aqueous solutions. The study examines the chemical characteristics, surface properties, and potential adsorption capabilities of the extracted material.

• Extraction and yield optimization of humic acid using various NaOH concentrations.
• Physicochemical characterization of river sediments and extracted humic acid.
• Analysis of surface functional groups using FTIR spectroscopy.
• Evaluation of surface area and porosity using the Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) method.
• Comparative analysis of extracted humic acid with commercial reference samples.

Excerpt from the Book

Summary of Chapters

1 INTRODUCTION: This chapter provides the historical context of humic substance research and discusses the role of humic acid as a component of natural organic matter in soil and water environments.

2 EXPERIMENTAL: This section details the methodology for collecting river sediment and the specific laboratory procedures used for determining physicochemical properties and extracting humic acid.

3 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: This chapter presents the analytical findings regarding the sediment composition, extraction yields, and the spectroscopic and textural characterization of the humic acid samples.

4 CONCLUSION: This chapter summarizes the study's findings, confirming the mesoporous nature of the extracted humic acid and noting the influence of sediment characteristics on extraction yield.

Keywords

Humic acid, Eniong River, Sediment, Extraction, Adsorption, Green chemistry, FTIR, UV-visible spectroscopy, Mesoporous, BET, Surface area, Porosity, Methylene blue, Humification, Physicochemical properties

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the core subject of this research paper?

The paper focuses on the extraction and characterization of humic acid from sediment samples collected from the Eniong River in Nigeria to explore its potential as a low-cost adsorbent.

What are the central thematic areas?

The central themes include soil chemistry, the extraction of organic substances from river sediments, and the structural characterization of humic acids using spectroscopic and textural analysis techniques.

What is the primary objective of this study?

The primary objective is to determine if humic acid extracted from Eniong River sediment can serve as an effective, sustainable alternative to traditional adsorbents for wastewater treatment.

What scientific methods were employed?

The study utilized green chemistry extraction techniques, UV-visible spectroscopy, FTIR spectroscopy for identifying functional groups, and the BET method for assessing surface area and porosity.

What is covered in the main body of the paper?

The main body details the sampling of river sediment, the step-by-step extraction process, the measurement of physical and chemical parameters, and a thorough analysis of the resulting humic acid structure.

Which keywords characterize this research?

Key terms include humic acid, Eniong River, extraction, mesoporous, adsorption, FTIR, and sediment analysis.

What did the surface area and porosity analysis reveal about the extracted humic acid?

The BET analysis indicated that the extracted humic acid possesses a mesoporous structure, which makes it suitable for adsorbing dye molecules like methylene blue.

How did the concentration of the extractant influence the yield of humic acid?

The study found that the yield of humic acid increased with higher concentrations of the extractant (NaOH) in the order of 0.1 M < 0.5 M < 1.0 M.