Determination of Physiochemical Properties of Dikanut Shell

Abstract

This study was aimed at determining the physiochemical properties of
Dikanut shell in two distinct forms, viz., unmodified Dikanut shell powder
(UDSP) and carbonized Dikanut shell powder (CDSP). The Dikanut
properties investigated in this study were density, pH value, moisture
content, oil absorption capacity, ash content, metal oxides and functional
group using the fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis.
The results from this study showed that the Dikanut shell in the UDSP
form contained a pH value of 4.8, bulk density of 0.49g/cm3
, moisture
content of 9.4, oil absorption capacity of 0.52g/g and ash content of 3.4%.
The study further showed the presence of SiO2, Al2O3, CaO, Fe2O3,
aromatic hydrocarbons, and ring based compounds in the UDSP sample.
The CDSP had a pH of 7.5, bulk density of 0.69g/cm3
, moisture content
of 5.5, oil absorption capacity of 0.54g/g, ash content of 6.5%. The FTIR
analysis of Dikanut showed the presence of functional groups such as
esters, amides, carboxylic acids and aromatic hydrocarbons.