Physical, chemical and morphological characterization of mammon (Melicoccus bijugatus) shell as a potential biomaterial for wastewater treatment

The production of biomass from the agricultural industry has been studied as a possible solution to different problems in multiple areas. To determine its feasibility, it is essential to evaluate the specific properties of each material. In the present work, a physical, chemical and morphological characterization of mammon (Melicoccus bijugatus) peel was carried out and its potential use in wastewater treatment was determined. The shells were collected from different sales points in the city, washed with distilled water to remove debris, dried for 48 hours in the sun and then crushed. They were then washed again with distilled water and dried in an oven at 50°C for 24 hours. Next, a portion of the biomass was chemically treated with hydrochloric acid (HCl) at 0.5 mol/L concentration. Each sample was morphologically characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) coupled with EDS for compositional analysis and color mapping, where a heterogeneous morphology with high roughness and a large number of pores of different sizes was observed. Likewise, a mass percentage of 47.26% carbon, 52.03% oxygen and 0.7% chlorine was found. In addition, an analysis of chemical compounds was performed with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), which revealed the presence of bands at 1041 cm-1, 1624 cm-1, 2916 cm-1 and 3324 cm-1 representatives of lignocellulosic material. Finally, a porosity analysis was performed with the Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) technique, obtaining an average pore size of 267 nm, BET surface area of 1511 cm2/g and pore volume of 0.000018 cm³/g. It was concluded that the properties of the material can favor the adsorption of organic and inorganic contaminants such as metals or chemical dyes, and that under chemical modifications, it could be used as a natural coagulant in the treatment of the same.