Emerging contaminants removal by granular activated carbon obtained from residual Macauba biomass

Abstract

The removal of emergent contaminants via adsorption on granular activated carbon, prepared from Macauba palm, has been studied, contributing to the recovery of the residual biomass, endocarp, obtained in the Macauba palm oil extraction process. The material was characterized by different techniques, such as Raman spectroscopy, thermal analysis, adsorption/desorption of N, zeta potential, and scanning electron microscopy. The N adsorption studies showed that the material presents wide micropores and narrow mesopores, and has a surface area of 907.0 m g. Its maximum adsorption capacity towards the three main emerging contaminants (bisphenol A, ethinylestradiol, and amoxicillin) is much higher than that obtained with benchmark adsorbents (0.148, 0.104, and 0.072 mmol g, respectively). The influence of temperature and pH on the adsorption was also analyzed, allowing an improved description of the adsorption mechanism and showing very promising results.

A Review on the Synthesis and Characterization of Biomass-Derived Carbons for Adsorption of Emerging Contaminants from Water

“…The adsorption capacity decreased following the order E1 > E2 > EE2 > E3 > BPA. Moura et al [201] analyzed the adsorption of bisphenol A, ethinylestradiol, and amoxicillin on an activated carbon obtained by chemical activation with ZnCl 2 of Macauba palm waste. The N 2 adsorption-desorption isotherms at −196 • C revealed a porous texture consisting of micropores and narrow mesopores with a total surface area of 907 m 2 •g −1 .…”

“…Pinus taeda S BET = 960 m 2 •g−1 pH pzc = 6.83C o = 20-100 mg•L −1 W = 100 mg•L −1 T = 20 • C pH = 3.0-9.0 q max = 274.8 mg•g −1 Low-medium pH, π-π 0.1-1.0 g•L −1 W = 4 g•L −1 T = 20-50 • C pH = 2.0-10.0 q max TC = 302.9 mg•g −1 q max OTC = 321.5 mg•g −1 q max ClT = 313.5 mg•g −814-965 m 2 •g −1 pH pzc = 2.3-4.9 C o = 0.035-0.30 g•L −1 T = 25 • C pH = 7.3 q max = 13.0 mg•g −1 1900 • C Macauba palm waste S BET = 907 m 2 •g −1 pH IEP = 5.9 C o = 10-1000 mg•L −1 W = 10 g•L −1 T = 25 • C pH = 3.0-9.0 q max = 38.0 mg•g −1π-π interaction[201] …”

Analysis of the Effect of Conditions of Preparation of Nitrogen-Doped Activated Carbons Derived from Lotus Leaves by Activation with Sodium Amide on the Formation of Their Porous Structure

“…The greater reactivity of the activating agents used in the chemical activation process allows not only to skip the carbonization stage, but also to lower the process temperature, and thus reduce energy costs and the time necessary to create a porous structure. In the process of chemical activation, the final product is prepared with high efficiency, characterized by a strongly developed specific surface and porosity, and a very low ash content [ 17 ]. The main disadvantage of chemical activation is its high cost, resulting both from the need to use expensive activators as well as the introduction of a stage for removing the excess of activators and by-products by washing.…”

“…It should be stressed that due to the complex structure of biomass and complex mechanisms occurring during carbonization and activation processes affecting the properties of the final product, i.e., activated carbons, in order to obtain its expected porous structure and physicochemical properties, needs comprehensive experimental studies and analyses. In recent years, due to the demand for porous materials with a large specific surface area and high mechanical strength used in environmental protection and power engineering, a dynamic development of research on the processes of production of activated carbons from waste materials of biomass origin has been observed [ 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 ].…”

Combined Minimum-Run Resolution IV and Central Composite Design for Optimized Removal of the Tetracycline Drug Over Metal–Organic Framework-Templated Porous Carbon

“…Other carbonaceous sources (e.g., activated carbon) with chemical modifications (e.g., alkaline pretreatment, metal doping, etc.) also brought many promising uptake results for TCC treatment [12][13][14]. Recently, such mesoporous carbons (MPC) can be facilely synthesized via the pyrolysis of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) as self-sacrificial templates [15][16][17][18].…”