Cyber Times International Journal of Technology & Management

India is the leading producer of black gram in the world. The processing of black gram produces a waste in the form of husk (12% of the total pulse). The use of this husk to develop metal adsorbent to remove heavy metals can be proved one way of value addition to this waste. The present work was carried out with the aim to develop metal adsorbent from black gram husk and its characterization. The husk was washed with distilled water, dried and then ground. The ground husk was carbonized by heating in muffle furnace at 500 degree centigrade for one hour. The resulting char was then washed with 0.1molar hydrochloric acid, followed by washing with distilled water, drying, crushing and sieving to particle size ranging 0.25–0.15 millimeter. The adsorbent was analyzed for the physical and chemical parameters such as char yield, moisture content, volatile matter content, ash content, fixed carbon content, loss on ignition, water soluble content, acid soluble content, pH Value, bulk density, iodine number, specific conductivity. Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) was used for examination of surface of the adsorbents. Functional groups of adsorbents were studied by Fourier Transformed Infra-red (FTIR) whereas Flame potentiometer was used for detection of elements. Performance of adsorbent for removal of zinc from aqueous solution was evaluated by batch study. The study showed the presence of functional groups such as free hydroxyl groups (-OH), secondary amines, alkanes, alkenes, alkynes, arenes, aldehydes, ketones, acids with adsorbent. Fibrous matrix structure of adsorbent was confirmed by SEM. Batch study showed the removal of zinc to the extent of 74.55%.