Evaluation of the adsorption isotherm of activated charcoal used in pharmaceutical medicine from some Nigerian plant parts, corn cobs, the wooden parts of Mangifera indica and Azandirachta indica

Abstract

Activated charcoal is variously referred to as charcoal, carbon, Norit and medicoal. It is generally derived from many carbonaceous vegetable materials and in this study from Nigerian wooden plants as well as farm wastes. The uses include, detoxification, decontamination and in flatulence. The aim of this research is to explore cheaper and more effective activated charcoal alternatives than those that are currently commercially available. Corn cobs and the wooden parts of Mangifera indica and Azandirachta indica as raw materials were carbonized in a muffler furnace at 600 to 700°C for 30 min. The carbonized residue so obtained were pulverized, sieved and activated in an oven at 120°C for 2 h. The adsorption profile of the test charcoal samples was evaluated using acetic acid adsorption method and Freundlich isotherm model to determine adsorption constants, (K) and (n). It was observed that M. indica (K – 0.076), showed the highest adsorption capacity while at the same time was statistically significant, followed by A. indica (K - 0.026) whereas corn cobs (K – 0.013) and standard (K – 0.013) ranked equally with the lowest specific adsorption property. Activated charcoal with excellent performance as well as cost-effective for use in pharmaceutical medicine can be sourced from local plants and farm wastes.

Keywords: Locally sourced, cost-effectiveness, excellent, activated charcoal, alternative, pharmaceutical medicine.