Effect of Activation Temperature on Textural and Adsorptive Properties for Activated Carbon Derived from Local Reed Biomass: Removal of p-Nitrophenol

Authors

  • Nady Attia Fathy National Research Center,
  • Sohair A. Sayed Ahmed National Research Center
  • Reham M. M. Abo El-enin National Research Center

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5755/j01.erem.59.1.961

Keywords:

Local common reeds, H3PO4 activation, porosity, adsorption of p-nitrophenol

Abstract

The use of the local common reed (CR) biomass as a novel precursor for activated carbon (AC) production was investigated. Three activated carbons were obtained by impregnation with 50 v/v% H3PO4 under different activation temperatures at 400, 450 and 500oC for 2h. Produced samples were characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and adsorption of N2 at 77 K. The discharge of phenolic compounds into water-courses is a serious pollution problem which may affect the quality of water supply. Batch adsorption tests were carried out using para-nitrophenol (PNP) as a probe organic pollutant at the temperatures of 20, 40 and 60oC to investigate the adsorption efficiency of developed carbons. Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models were studied and the former model showed a satisfactory agreement with experimental data. Adsorption kinetic experiments were determined by pseudo-first order, pseudo-second order, and intraparticle diffusion models. The kinetic removal data of PNP agreed with the pseudo-second order and adsorption process controlled by film diffusion. Overall, the obtained results show that the activation temperature has a significant impact on textural and adsorption characteristics of developed ACs, producing an effective adsorbent for removal of organic pollutants from wastewater.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5755/j01.erem.59.1.961

Author Biographies

Nady Attia Fathy, National Research Center,

Physical Chemistry department

Sohair A. Sayed Ahmed, National Research Center

Physical Chemistry

Reham M. M. Abo El-enin, National Research Center

Physical Chemistry

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Published

2012-03-14

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Section

Articles