EXTRACTION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF CELLULOSE FROM YELLOW MAIZE COB AND ITS USE IN TREATING EFFLUENT WATER FROM INDUSTRIAL SITE

A research study to determine the use of extracted and characterized cellulose from yellow maize cob, and its use of in the treatment of effluent water from an industrial site was conducted. Cellulose was extracted from yellow maize cob, characterized, modified, and thereafter subjected to the treatment of effluent water collected the Warri Refinery and Petrochemical Company (WRPC) using standard procedures. Results obtained showed a percentage decrease of toxic heavy metal ions in effluent water treated with cellulose material. Iron (Fe) recorded a percentage decrease of 95% (from 6.16 mg/l to 2.65 mg/l), while recorded a percentage decrease of 93% (from 3.13mg/l to 0.19mg/l) respectively using modified cellulose as treatment on effluent water. The percentage decrease of toxic metal ions in effluent water using cellulose recorded 87% reduction in concentration of copper (Cu) (from 0.07mg/l to <0.01mg/l) and 33.3% reduction in the concentration of zinc (Zn) (from 0.18mg/l to 0.12mg/l) respectively. The results obtained from the absorption of heavy metals using cellulose from a cheap source (corn cob) showed that modified cellulose materials can be used to reduce heavy metals from effluent water, hence it is recommended for use.