Development of activated carbon from agricultural waste, maize cobs and groundnuts shells for water purification

Abstract

Access to safe and clean water remains a major challenge in many developing countries, including Zimbabwe, where rural and peri-urban communities often depend on boreholes, wells, rivers, and dams that may be contaminated by agricultural runoff, poor sanitation, mining activities, and waste disposal. Although commercial activated carbon is widely used for water treatment because of its high adsorption capacity, its cost and dependence on imported or industrial raw materials limit its use among low-income communities. This study focuses on the development of low-cost activated carbon from locally available agricultural wastes, specifically maize cobs and groundnut shells, for water purification. The research aims to produce activated carbon through carbonization and activation processes, determine its physical and chemical properties, and evaluate its effectiveness in improving selected water quality parameters such as turbidity, pH, colour, and contaminant removal. The study will also compare the purification performance of maize cob-based activated carbon and groundnut shell-based activated carbon in order to recommend the most suitable material for affordable water treatment. By converting agricultural residues into useful adsorbents, the study promotes sustainable waste management, environmental protection, and community-level access to cleaner water. The findings are expected to contribute to the development of locally sourced, low-cost, and environmentally friendly water purification technologies for Zimbabwean communities.