Activated carbons derived from oil palm empty-fruit bunches: application to environmental problems

Area of Science:

• Environmental Chemistry
• Materials Science

Background:

• Phenol contamination in aqueous solutions poses environmental risks.
• Developing cost-effective adsorbents for phenol removal is crucial for wastewater treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the efficacy of activated carbons derived from oil palm empty fruit bunches (EFB) for phenol adsorption.
• To compare different activation methods (thermal and physical) for activated carbon production.

Main Methods:

• Activated carbons were produced via thermal activation (300-800°C) and physical activation (150°C) of EFB.
• Batch adsorption experiments were conducted to evaluate phenol removal efficiency.
• Adsorption isotherms (Langmuir, Freundlich) and kinetic studies were performed.

Main Results:

• Activated carbon produced by thermal activation at 800°C exhibited the highest phenol absorption capacity.
• Optimal adsorption conditions included a pH of 2-3 and initial phenol concentrations of 200-300 mg/L.
• Equilibrium was reached within 6 hours, and data best fitted the Freundlich isotherm.

Conclusions:

• Activated carbon from EFB, particularly when thermally treated at 800°C, is a highly effective adsorbent for phenol removal.
• This method presents a promising, low-cost (USD 0.50/kg) alternative for industrial wastewater treatment compared to other sources.