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ABSTRACT
Groundnut husks were obtained from New Benin Market, Oredo LGA, Benin City, Edo State. The biomass were washed, air dried for a period of 7 days, reduced to a particle size of 2mm and characterized in terms of their physicochemical properties. The pH was determined to be (6.60 ± 0.26). Electrical conductivity recorded (4.47±0.01�s/cm). Bulk density was measured at (0.43±0.00g/ml). Furthermore, the results revealed that the groundnut husk biomass possesses a substantial amount of nutrients including calcium (9.00mg/kg), magnesium (117mg/kg), sodium (19.25mg/kg), phosphorus (167.25mg/kg), potassium (877.7mg/kg) and Nitrogen (61.25mg/kg). FTIR analysis revealed that groundnut husk biomass consists of functional groups majorly (- OH and -COOH). EDX analysis showed that the groundnut husk biomass was composed of silicon (50.0%), oxygen (22.0%), calcium (10.2%), iron (6.0%), carbon (4.0%), sodium (3.4%) and aluminum (2.30%). SEM micrographs revealed the biomass has a rough surface. The specific surface area, average pore diameter and pore volume of the groundnut husk biomass are 282.76m2 /g, 2.118nm and 1.70nm respectively. These results show that the biomass produced has acceptable qualities and can be used as a soil amendment.
