Effect of Activation Temperature on Textural and Adsorptive Properties for Activated Carbon Derived from Local Reed Biomass: Removal 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 500^oC 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 60^oC 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