International Science Community Association Research Journal of Chemical Sciences 2231-606X 10 1 2020 02 18 Characterization of adsorbents from plant source (water leaf (Talinum Triangulare), bitter leaf (Vernonia Amygdalina) and vetiver grass (Vetiveria Zizanioides) using infrared spectrometric tecnnique 41 47 EN Beckley Ikhajiagbe 1 Environmental Biotechnology and Sustainability Research Group, Department of Plant Biology and Biotechnology, University of Benin, Nigeria Boniface O. Edegbai 2 Environmental Biotechnology and Sustainability Research Group, Department of Plant Biology and Biotechnology, University of Benin, Nigeria Melody A. Eweka 3 Environmental Biotechnology and Sustainability Research Group, Department of Plant Biology and Biotechnology, University of Benin, Nigeria Dinesh R. Pandithavidana 1 Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Kelaniya, Kelaniya 11600, Sri Lanka Rangika K.W. Munaweera 2 Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Kelaniya, Kelaniya 11600, Sri Lanka Ahola David Oklo 1 Chemistry Department, Benue State University, PMB 102119, Makurdi, Nigeria Maxwell Idoko Ocheri 2 Geography Department, Benue State University, PMB 102119, Makurdi, Nigeria Alimi John Praise 3 Nigerian Stored Products Research Institute, PMB 5044, Dugbe, Ibadan, Nigeria Patricia Ani Aleke 4 Chemistry Department, Benue State University, PMB 102119, Makurdi, Nigeria KONAN Kouadio F. Arthur 1 Department of Mathematics-Physics-Chemistry-Computer Science, Physics Chemistry Laboratory, Jean Lorougnon Guédé University of Daloa, 12 BP V 25 Daloa 12, CÔte d\'Ivoire YAO Marcel Konan 2 Physical Chemistry Laboratory, UFR SSMT, Félix Houphouët-Boigny University of Cocody Abidjan, B.P. V34 Abidjan, CÔte d′Ivoire DONGUI Bini Kouamé 3 Department of Mathematics-Physics-Chemistry-Computer Science, Physics Chemistry Laboratory, Jean Lorougnon Guédé University of Daloa, 12 BP V 25 Daloa 12, CÔte d\'Ivoire TROKOUREY Albert 4 Physical Chemistry Laboratory, UFR SSMT, Félix Houphouët-Boigny University of Cocody Abidjan, B.P. V34 Abidjan, CÔte d′Ivoire Akpétou Kouamé 1 Laboratoire des Sciences et Technologies de l′Environnement, Université Jean Lorougnon Guédé Daloa, CÔte d′Ivoire Yapi Yapo Hermann1 2 Laboratoire des Sciences et Technologies de l′Environnement, Université Jean Lorougnon Guédé Daloa, CÔte d′Ivoire Wango Ted-Edgar 3 Laboratoire de Géologie marine et de Sédimentologie, Université Félix Houphouet Boigny, Abidjan, CÔte d′Ivoire Assémian Sylvie 4 Laboratoire de Chimie et Environnement, Centre de Recherches Océanologiques, Abidjan, CÔte d′Ivoire Koua Jérémie Alex 5 Laboratoire des Sciences et Technologies de l′Environnement, Université Jean Lorougnon Guédé Daloa, CÔte d′Ivoire Kouassi Aka Marcel 6 Laboratoire de Chimie et Environnement, Centre de Recherches Océanologiques, Abidjan, CÔte d′Ivoire Chikwe T.N. 1 Department of Pure and Industrial Chemistry, University of Port Harcourt, P.M.B 5323, Choba, Port Harcourt, Nigeria Mac-Arthur O.O. 2 Department of Pure and Industrial Chemistry, University of Port Harcourt, P.M.B 5323, Choba, Port Harcourt, Nigeria > Research Paper 2019 11 6 2020 02 18 Powdered samples of Bitter leaf (PBL), Water leaf (PWL) and Vetiver grass (PVG) were analyzed with the use of Nicolet IS5 Fourier Transform Spectrometer to identify the functional groups present in these plants. Results obtained showed the presence of alcohol (OH-), alkane (C-C) and alkene (C=C) in all three plants as indicated by the peaks at wavelength ranges of 3600 - 3200cm-1, 2935 - 2915cm-1 and 1680- 1620cm-1 respectively. Tertiary alcohol and phenol were also present in all three plants as indicated in the wavelength ranges of 1420 - 1330cm-1 and 1390 - 1310cm-1 respectively. Carbonyl (C=O) and Nitro (N=O) functional groups were exclusively found in Bitter leaf at wavelength ranges of 1740 - 1715cm-1 and 1550 - 1500 cm-1 respectively while wavelength ranges of 1190 - 1130cm-1 and 1090 - 1020cm-1 indicates the presence of secondary and primary amines exclusively present in Bitter leaf and Vetiver grass. Functional groups such as sulfoxide (S=O) and iodo compounds (C-I) as indicated at wavelength ranges of 1070 - 1030cm-1 and 600 - 500cm-1 were present in Vetiver grass. The higher the molecular polarizability of the plants which is a function of the polar functional groups present, the higher the adsorption capacity of the plant. The presence of carbonyl functional groups in Bitter leaf will give it an advantage in terms of adsorption capacity compared to Water leaf and Vetiver grass because carbonyl functional groups are highly polarized due to their ability to form hydrogen bond as well as the presence of high dipole moments orchestrated by two electronegative atoms. Copyright@ International Science Community Association