Batch adsorption of phenol onto physiochemical-activated coconut shell

Area of Science:

• Environmental Chemistry
• Materials Science
• Adsorption Science

Background:

• Phenol contamination poses environmental risks.
• Activated carbon is a promising adsorbent for phenol removal.
• Developing cost-effective adsorbents from biomass is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the adsorption equilibrium and kinetics of phenol onto coconut shell-based activated carbon (CS850A).
• To characterize the adsorption performance of CS850A for phenol removal.
• To determine the optimal conditions and mechanisms for phenol adsorption.

Main Methods:

• Physiochemical activation of coconut shell at 850°C with CO(2) flow, preceded by carbonization at 700°C and KOH impregnation.
• Batch adsorption experiments conducted with varying initial phenol concentrations (100-500 mg/L) at 30°C.
• Analysis of adsorption data using Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models and pseudo-second-order kinetic model.

Main Results:

• Adsorption isotherms fitted both Langmuir and Freundlich models, suggesting multilayer adsorption.
• The pseudo-second-order kinetic model showed strong agreement, indicating chemical reaction as the rate-controlling step.
• The maximum adsorption capacity of CS850A for phenol was determined to be 205.8 mg/g.

Conclusions:

• Coconut shell-based activated carbon (CS850A) is a highly effective adsorbent for phenol removal from aqueous solutions.
• The adsorption process is governed by chemical reaction kinetics.
• CS850A demonstrates significant potential for industrial applications in wastewater treatment.