Sains Malaysiana 45(1)(2016): 59–69

Improvement of Indoor Air Quality Using Local Fabricated Activated Carbon from Date Stones

(Penambahbaikan Kualiti Udara Dalaman Menggunakan Fabrikasi Karbon Aktif Tempatan daripada Biji Kurma)

J.A. RADAIDEH¹, A.A. ALAZBA², M.N. AMIN, Z.N. SHATNAWI¹ & M.T. AMIN²*

¹Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, College of Engineering,

King Faisal University (KFU), P. O. Box 380, Al-Hofuf, Al-Ahsa 31982, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

²Alamoudi Water Research Chair, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2460

Riyadh 11451, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Diserahkan: 28 June 2014/Diterima: 9 November 2014

ABSTRACT

Indoor air quality assessment in residential areas of Al-Hofuf city/Eastern region of Saudi Arabia is investigated through a multi-week multiple sites sampling survey. Critical air pollution indicators, including nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), sulfur dioxide (SO₂), carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO₂) and total volatile organic compounds (TVOC) as well as temperatures were measured and analyzed during the study period from January to May 2014. Three site-types - roadside, urban and rural - were selected and within each site type, six locations were selected to study the varying indoor/outdoor air quality. The results indicated that NO₂ and CO concentrations increased at the starting hours of the day. SO₂ concentrations were relatively low and constant. In addition, a strong association between outdoor and indoor air quality was found. Measurements showed that indoor/outdoor ratio for TVOC ranged from 0.8 to 0.99. For CO₂, NO₂ and SO₂, this was 0.92-1.15, 0.5-0.7 and 0.52-0.9, respectively. Finally, the effects of activated carbon (AC) were investigated to assess the extent of the improvement in the indoor air quality. The analysis of data obtained indicated that using locally prepared AC from date stones was an effective way to reduce the indoor air pollution with an overall efficiency of 85.5, while the use of industrial granular AC reduced the air pollutants with an efficiency of less than 0.6. In addition, AC was exposed to an exhaust gas flow to evaluate its elimination potential for high concentrated pollutants. The obtained results demonstrated that AC was also functioning as an efficient absorbent with an overall removal efficiency of 77.8%, even when it was exposed to high concentrations.

Keywords: Activated carbon; air pollution; date stones; indoor/outdoor concentrations and ratios; Saudi Arabia

ABSTRAK

Penilaian kualiti udara dalaman di kawasan perumahan bandar Al-Hofuf rantau/bahagian Timur Arab Saudi dikaji selama beberapa minggu di beberapa tapak kajian persampelan. Penunjuk pencemaran udara kritikal termasuk nitrogen dioksida (NO₂), sulfur dioksida (SO₂), karbon monoksida (CO), karbon dioksida (CO₂) dan jumlah sebatian organik meruap (TVOC) dan juga suhu diukur dan dianalisis dalam tempoh kajian daripada Januari-Mei 2014. Tiga jenis tapak - sisi jalan, bandar dan luar bandar telah dipilih dan dalam setiap jenis tapak, enam lokasi dipilih untuk mengkaji kualiti udara dalaman/luaran yang berbeza. Keputusan menunjukkan bahawa kepekatan NO₂ dan CO meningkat pada permulaan hari. Kepekatan SO₂ secara relatifnya rendah dan tetap. Di samping itu, perkaitan yang kuat antara kualiti udara luaran dan dalaman telah diperoleh. Pengukuran menunjukkan bahawa nisbah dalaman/luaran untuk TVOC adalah antara nisbah 0.8-0.99. Untuk CO₂, NO₂ dan SO₂, pula masing-masing adalah 0.92-1.15, 0.5 -0.7 dan 0.52-0.9. Akhirnya, kesan karbon diaktifkan (AC) telah dikaji untuk menilai sejauh mana peningkatan kualiti udara dalaman. Analisis data yang diperoleh menunjukkan bahawa penggunaan AC tempatan yang diperbuat daripada biji kurma adalah cara yang berkesan untuk mengurangkan pencemaran udara dalaman dengan kecekapan keseluruhan 85.5, manakala penggunaan perindustrian berbutir AC mengurangkan pencemaran udara dengan kecekapan kurang daripada 0.6. Di samping itu, AC juga terdedah kepada aliran gas ekzos untuk menilai potensi penyingkiran untuk pencemar tertumpu tinggi. Keputusan yang diperoleh menunjukkan bahawa AC juga berfungsi sebagai penyerap yang cekap dengan kecekapan penyingkiran keseluruhan 77.8%, walaupun ia telah didedahkan kepada kepekatan yang tinggi.

Kata kunci: Arab Saudi; biji kurma; karbon diaktifkan; kepekatan dalaman/luaran dan nisbah; pencemaran udara

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*Pengarang untuk surat-menyurat; email: mtamin@ksu.edu.sa