Pascal S. Thue

Microwave-assisted activated carbon from cocoa shell as adsorbent for removal of sodium diclofenac and nimesulide from aqueous effluents

Microwave-induced chemical activation process was used to prepare an activated carbon from cocoa shell for efficient removal of two anti-inflammatories, sodium diclofenac (DFC) and nimesulide (NM), from aqueous solutions. A paste was obtained from a mixture of cocoa shell and inorganic components; with a ratio of inorganic: organic of 1 (CSC-1.0). The mixture was pyrolyzed in a microwave oven in less than 10 min. The CSC-1.0 was acidified with a 6 mol L(-1) HCl under reflux to produce MWCS-1.0. The CSC-1.0 and MWCS-1.0 were characterized using FTIR, SEM, N2 adsorption/desorption curves, X-ray diffraction, and point of zero charge (pHpzc). Experimental variables such as initial pH of the adsorbate solutions and contact time were optimized for adsorptive characteristics of MWCS-1.0. The optimum pH for removal of anti-inflammatories ranged between 7.0 and 8.0. The kinetic of adsorption was investigated using general order, pseudo first-order and pseu do-second order kinetic models. The maximum amounts of DCF and NM adsorbed onto MWCS-1.0 at 25 °C are 63.47 and 74.81 mg g(-1), respectively. The adsorbent was tested on two simulated hospital effluents. MWCS-1.0 is capable of efficient removal of DCF and NM from a medium that contains high sugar and salt concentrations.

Effects of first-row transition metals and impregnation ratios on the physicochemical properties of microwave-assisted activated carbons from wood biomass

First-row transition metals (Co, Ni, Cu and Zn) were successfully used in the preparation of activated carbons from wood biomass via microwave-assisted irradiation. Physical-chemical properties of the produced materials (MWAC) were studied by nitrogen adsorption-desorption curves, SEM, FTIR, UV-vis DRS and synchronous fluorescence spectroscopy, CHN elemental analysis, TGA/DTG, pHzpc, hydrophobic properties, and total acidity and basicity groups. Results showed that the metals were bound successfully in different amounts with surface functional groups of the wood biomass through ion exchange and surface complexation interaction during the impregnation step. Zn2+ and Cu2+ formed the most complexes. MWAC impregnated with Zn2+ showed higher pore volumes and surface areas, followed by Cu2+, Co2+ and Ni2+, independently of the ratio used. As the metal : biomass ratio was increased from 0.5 to 2, the surface area of MWAC increased from 300 to 620m2g-1 for Co-MC, 260 to 381m2g-1 for Ni-MC, 449 to 765m2g-1 for Cu-MC and from 572 to 1780m2g-1 for Zn-MC. The samples showed high values of carbon contents and oxygen-containing groups. An adsorption experiment revealed that samples prepared using ZnCl2 showed the highest sorption capacities (qe) for the tested adsorbates, followed by CuCl2, CoCl2 and NiCl2. These results matched with the surface areas and pore volumes trends, which were found to follow atomic number and melting point trends-Ni(II)bisphenol A>hydroquinone>4-nitro phenol>2-naphtol>paracetamol>caffeine>resorcinol.

Application of Carbon Composite Adsorbents Prepared from Coffee Waste and Clay for the Removal of Reactive Dyes from Aqueous Solutions

A novel carbon composite was prepared from a mixture of coffee waste and clay with inorganic:organic ratio of 1.3 (CC-1.3). The mixture was pyrolysed at 700 °C. Considering the application of this adsorbent for removal of anionic dyes, the CC-1.3 was treated with a 6 mol L-1 HCl for 24 h to obtain ACC-1.3. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), N2 adsorption/desorption curves, scanning electron microscope (SEM) and powder X-ray diffractometry (XRD) were used for characterisation of CC-1.3 and ACC-1.3 carbon adsorbents. The adsorbents were effectively utilised for removal of reactive blue 19 (RB-19) and reactive violet 5 (RV-5) textile dyes from aqueous solutions. The maximum amounts of RB-19 dye adsorbed at 25 °C are 63.59 (CC-1.3) and 110.6 mg g-1 (ACC-1.3), and 54.34 (CC-1.3) and 94.32 mg g-1 (ACC-1.3) for RV-5 dye. Four simulated dye-house effluents were used to test the application of the adsorbents for treatment of effluents.

Microwave-activated carbons from tucumã (Astrocaryum aculeatum) seed for efficient removal of 2-nitrophenol from aqueous solutions

ABSTRACT Activated carbons (ACs) prepared from tucumã seed (Astrocaryum aculeatum) were used for 2-nitrophenol removal from aqueous solutions. The ACs were characterized by elemental analysis, FTIR, N2 adsorption/desorption isotherms, TGA, hydrophobicity/hydrophilicity balance, and total of acidic and basic groups. The ACs showed to have hydrophilic surfaces and they presented high specific surface areas (up to 1318 m2 g−1). In batch optimization studies, maximum removal was obtained at pH 7, contact time of 30 min, adsorbent dosage 1.5 gL−1 and temperature of 50°C. The general-order kinetic model and Liu isotherm model best fit the kinetic and equilibrium adsorption data with a maximum adsorption capacity of 1382 mg g−1 at 50°C. Effect of temperature and thermodynamic studies revealed that the adsorption processes of 2-nitrophenol onto ACs are dependent on temperature and are exothermic and spontaneous, respectively. About the applicability of the ACs for treating simulated effluents, the tucumã seed-activated carbon showed an excellent outcome in the treatment of simulated effluents, evidencing its high efficiency for phenolic compound adsorption. Tucumã seed-ACs showed to be cost effective and highly efficient adsorbents for efficient removal of 2-nitrophenol from aqueous solutions.