Preparation of Oily Sludge-Derived Activated Carbon and Its Adsorption Performance for Tetracycline Hydrochloride

Abstract

Oily sludge-derived activated carbon was prepared using the potassium hydroxide (KOH) activation method using oily sludge as a raw material, and one-factor experiments determined the best conditions for preparing activated carbon. The activated carbon’s morphological structure and surface chemical properties were analyzed by scanning different characterization tools, and the adsorption behavior of tetracycline hydrochloride was investigated. The results showed that the optimum conditions for preparing oily sludge-derived activated carbon were an activation temperature of 400 °C, activation time of 30 min, activator concentration of 1 mol/L, and impregnation ratio of 2 mL/g. After activation, the activated carbon had more pores and a more orderly crystal structure arrangement, the specific surface area was 2.07 times higher than that before activation, and the surface was rich in functional groups such as -HO, -C-O, -C=C, and -C-H, which increased the active sites of activated carbon. Physicochemical effects dominated the adsorption process. It belonged to the spontaneous heat absorption process under the quasi-secondary kinetic and Langmuir isothermal models. The maximum monolayer adsorption capacity of KOH-activated carbon was 205.1 mg·g−1.

Catalysis in Energy and the Environment: Opportunities and Challenges

“…In addition, carbon-based composites are employed for lithium-ion batteries [14][15][16]. This Special Issue also includes investigations related to pollutant removal with sorption capability [17][18][19][20][21][22][23]. The preparation and adsorption performance of activated carbon are emphatically discussed [19,20].…”

“…This Special Issue also includes investigations related to pollutant removal with sorption capability [17][18][19][20][21][22][23]. The preparation and adsorption performance of activated carbon are emphatically discussed [19,20]. Though some works do not directly discuss catalytic applications, they are still related to the scope of this Special Issue.…”