2-Nitrophenol removal and regeneration studies of pomegranate peels activated carbon

Abstract

In this paper, activated carbon-based pomegranate peels was used as a new adsorbent for 2-Nitrophenol adsorption from an aqueous solution instead of the commercial adsorbent Chemviron. Liquid-phase adsorption experiments were conducted, and the maximum adsorptive capacity was determined. The effect of the experimental parameters, namely, initial concentration, solution pH, particle size, temperature, and contact time, were traced. The equilibrium data were mathematically modeled, using the Langmuir, Freundlich, and Temkin adsorption models. The Kinetic data suited the Pseudo-first- order and Pseudo-second-order models at different initial concentration values and particle sizes. The thermodynamic study confirmed that the adsorption process was exothermic and spontaneous and the energy relations substantiated the favorability of adsorption on the prepared activated carbon, leading us to conclude that the adsorption process of the phenolic compound from the activated carbon obtained was physical. Pomegranate peels activated carbon regeneration could be performed using hot distilled water.