Activated carbon obtained from ayous sawdust, Cucurbitaceae (egussi) peelings and the mixture of the two were studied for the adsorption of phenacetin. Characterisation of activated carbon by SEM and XRD analysis shows that the mixture of precursors combine the properties of activated carbon obtained separately. The well-knownbatch sorption models– Langmuir (one and two sites), Freudlich, Tempkin, Elovich, Langmuir-Freudlich, Redlich Peterson, Radke-Prausnitz, Fritz Shlunder)—were tested with experimental data for the adsorption of phenacetin to estimate adsorption equilibrium parameters—rate constantsand adsorption capacities. The model with the best fit was identified from extensive statistical analysis of the results of nonlinear regression of the experimental data. Comparison of the statistical errors in parameter estimation between linear and non-linear isotherm models shows that transformation of non-linear isotherm equations to linear forms implicitly alter their error structure. The much smaller size of the various error indicators —Determination Coefficient, R2; Sum of Square Errors, SSE; Chi Test, χ2; Average Relative Errors, ARE—, calculated for the case of non linearization when compared to linearization, indicate the greater accuracy in the application of non linearization. The Langmuir model (one site) gave the best fit and thus the values of adsorption capacity for each activated carbon were calculated from it. Kinetic models show that weak and strong interactions are involved in the adsorption process and that the controlling mechanism may not be limited to intra particle diffusion. The lower value of the boundary layer thickness in the case of activated carbon obtained from the mixture, justified the higher adsorbed quantity of this activated carbon compared to those of activated carbon from each precursor.

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In the quest for a sustainable environment and clean water resources, the efficacy of activated carbons synthesized from Garcinia cola nut shells impregnated with KOH (CBK1/1) and ZnCl2 (CBZ1/1) for the adsorption of indigo carmine (IC) dye was studied using the batch technique. The prepared activated carbons were characterized using iodine number, elemental analysis, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), FTIR spectroscopy, powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), TGA/DTA, Boehm titration, and pH at point of zero charge. The elemental analysis showed a high percentage of carbon in both activated carbons (ACs). FTIR and Boehm titration analysis indicated the presence of several functional groups on the surfaces of both ACs which could influence the adsorption of IC. The primary adsorption mechanisms involved electrostatic interaction, hydrogen bonds formation, and π−π interactions. Maximum adsorption capacity values obtained using the Fritz–Schlunder III three-parameter model were 19.019 mg·g−1 and 18.299 mg·g−1 for CBK1/1 and CBZ1/1, respectively. The Fritz–Schlunder model exponent mFS of value less than 1 showed that the adsorption of IC by the ACs occurred on heterogeneous surfaces. Positive values of ∆Q obtained by the linear and nonlinear forms of the Temkin model indicate the exothermic character of the adsorption process.

Biochar and ferromagnetic biochar obtained from the pyrolysis of dried mango seeds and modified using a hydrothermal method were used as catalyst for the heterogeneous degradation of indigo carmine in an aqueous medium. These prepared biochars were characterized using different techniques: Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). The analyses of the results revealed the presence of iron oxide in the form of magnetite (Fe3O4) in the catalyst. The catalytic tests carried out with this composite material showed a significant degradation of indigo carmine. The maximum degradation of indigo carmine in the aqueous solution was reached after 240 min of agitation. The Fenton degradation process using irradiation with a 100 W electric lamp and hydrogen peroxide (concentration 4 mol/L) showed the best results at pH = 3. From this study, it emerged that the second-order kinetic model better described the degradation process, and it gave lower half-lives compared to those obtained with the first-order kinetic law. The study also showed that ferromagnetic biochar could be prepared from mango seeds and used for the degradation of indigo carmine in an aqueous solution.

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