Efficiency of wastewater treatment using activated carbon from newspaper waste and prawn shell

The increasing concern over environmental waste and the demand for effective adsorbents have led to innovative methods of producing activated carbon from sustainable sources. The activated carbon can eliminate many contaminants, including organic molecules, heavy metals, and chemicals from wastewater. Maintaining good water quality is crucial for preventing waterborne diseases. Hence, this study explores the synthesis and characterization of activated carbon from newspaper and prawn shells waste, as well as the analysis of physicochemical parameters of wastewater before and after treatment for 15 minutes and 30 minutes. The activated carbon was assessed using FTIR spectroscopy to determine its properties. The wastewater taken from Mardec Industrial Latex Sdn. Bhd., Tapah, Perak, was tested on several physicochemical parameters, including dissolved oxygen (DO), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5), pH, temperature, total suspended solids (TSS), and heavy metals, specifically copper (Cu). The biosorption process employed activated carbon extracted from newspapers and shrimp shells waste. The temperature and dissolved oxygen (DO) were detected using a multiprobe kit, pH was assessed using a pH meter, TSS was determined by using a vacuum pump filtration method, and copper (Cu) concentration was analyzed using Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS). In conclusion, highly porous activated carbon synthesized from newspaper and prawn shell waste exhibits excellent adsorption capabilities due to its functional groups and compositions, such as chitosan and cellulose, which significantly reduce contaminants in treated wastewater samples. Thus, this study highlights the potential of employing low-cost, environmentally friendly substances for the synthesis of activated carbon in wastewater treatment, thereby enhancing waste management and fostering environmental sustainability.