Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Synthesis and Characterisation of Novel-Activated Carbon from Waste Biomass Pine Cone and Its Application in the Removal of Congo Red Dye from Aqueous Solution by Adsorption

  • Published:
Water, Air, & Soil Pollution Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This study was undertaken to synthesise a novel biomass-based chemically activated carbon from Australian pine cone and to investigate its effectiveness in the removal of anionic dye Congo red from aqueous solution. The effect of activation parameters such as the concentration of phosphoric acid and temperature were identified as the most efficient parameters for activation in the Congo red removal. The synthesised activated carbon was characterised by Fourier transform infrared and different physical properties, such as bulk density, CHNS analysis, carbon yield, particle size, zeta potential and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller surface area were also determined. Batch adsorption study showed that the amount of adsorption depends on various physico-chemical process parameters, such as solution pH, dye concentration, temperature and adsorbent dose. It was observed that Langmuir maximum adsorption capacity was 500 mg/g at a pH of 3.5. Furthermore, pseudo-first-order, pseudo-second-order, Elovich and intra-particle diffusion models were fitted to examine the adsorption kinetic and mechanism of adsorption. Equilibrium data were fitted with Langmuir, Freundlich and Tempkin adsorption isotherm models. Thermodynamic parameters such as ΔG0, ΔH0, and ΔS0 were also calculated. Finally, a single-stage batch adsorber design for the Congo red adsorption onto activated carbon particles was presented based on the Freundlich isotherm model equation. These results indicated pine cone biomass is a good and cheap precursor for the production of an effective activated carbon adsorbent and alternative to commercial-activated carbon.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ahmad, R., & Kumar, R. (2010). Adsorptive removal of Congo red dye from aqueous solution using bael shell carbon. Applied Surface Science, 257, 1628–1633.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Aksakal, O., & Ucun, H. (2010). Equilibrium, kinetic and thermodynamic studies of the biosorption of textile dye (Reactive Red 195) onto Pinus sylvestris L. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 181, 666–672.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Arias, F., & Sen, T. K. (2009). Removal of zinc metal ion (Zn2+) from its aqueous solution by kaolin clay mineral: a kinetic and equilibrium study. Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects, 348, 100–108.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Auta, M., & Hameed, B. H. (2013). Coalesced chitosan activated carbon composite for batch and fixed-bed adsorption of cationic and anionic dyes. Colloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces, 105, 199–206.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bhattacharyya, K., & Sharma, A. (2005). Kinetics and thermodynamics of methylene blue adsorption on neem leaf powder. Dyes and Pigments, 66, 51–59.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Binupriya, A. R., Sathishkumar, M., Swaminathan, K., Ku, C. S., & Yun, S. E. (2008). Comparative studies on removal of Congo red by native and modified mycelial pellets of Trametes versicolor in various reactor modes. Bioresource Technology, 99, 1080–1088.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chen, H., & Zhao, J. (2009). Adsorption study for removal of Congo red anionic dye using organo-attapulgite. Adsorption, 15, 381–389.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dawood, S., & Sen, T. K. (2012). Removal of anionic dye Congo red from aqueous solution by raw pine and acid-treated pine cone powder as adsorbent: equilibrium, thermodynamic, kinetics, mechanism and process design. Water Research, 46, 1933–1946.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Doğan, M., Alkan, M., Türkyilmaz, A., & Özdemir, Y. (2004). Kinetics and mechanism of removal of methylene blue by adsorption onto perlite. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 109, 141–148.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • EI-Latif, M. M. A., Ibrahim, A. M., & EI-Kady, M. F. (2010). Adsorption equilibrium, kinetics and thermodynamics of methylene blue from aqueous solutions using biopolymer oak sawdust composite. American Journal of Science, 6, 267–283.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fathy, N.A., Ahmed, S.A.S., El-enin, R.M.M.A., (2012). Effect of activation temperature on textural and adsorptive properties for activated carbon derived from local reed biomass: removal of p-nitrophenol. Environmental Research, Engineering and Management 59.

  • Foo, K. Y., & Hameed, B. H. (2011). Microwave assisted preparation of activated carbon from pomelo skin for the removal of anionic and cationic dyes. Chemical Engineering Journal, 173, 385–390.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Freundlich, H.M.F., (1906). Über die adsorption in lösungen. Z. Phys. Chem., Stoechiom 57(A) 385–471

    Google Scholar 

  • Ghaedi, M., Tavallali, H., Sharifi, M., Kokhdan, S. N., & Asghari, A. (2012). Preparation of low cost activated carbon from Myrtus communis and pomegranate and their efficient application for removal of Congo red from aqueous solution. Spectrochimica Acta Part A: Molecular and Biomolecular Spectroscopy, 86, 107–114.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gómez, V., Larrechi, M. S., & Callao, M. P. (2007). Kinetic and adsorption study of acid dye removal using activated carbon. Chemosphere, 69, 1151–1158.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ho, Y.-S., & McKay, G. (1999). Pseudo-second order model for sorption processes. Process Biochemistry, 34(5), 451–465.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kaur, S., Rani, S., & Mahajan, R. K. (2013). Adsorption kinetics for the removal of hazardous dye Congo red by biowaste materials as adsorbents. Australian Journal of Chemistry, 2013, 12.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kong, H., He, J., Gao, Y., Han, J., & Zhu, X. (2011). Removal of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from aqueous solution on soybean stalk-based carbon. Journal of Environmental Quality, 40, 1737–1744.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kumar, P., Ramalingam, S., Senthamarai, C., Niranjanaa, M., Vijayalakshmi, P., & Sivanesan, S. (2010). Adsorption of dye from aqueous solution by cashew nut shell: studies on equilibrium isotherm, kinetics and thermodynamics of interactions. Desalination, 261, 52–60.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lagergren, S. (1898). About the theory of so-called adsorption of soluble substances. Kungliga Svenska Vetenskapsakademiens Handlingar, 24, 1–39.

    Google Scholar 

  • Langmuir, I. (1916). The constitution and fundamental properties of solids and liquids. Part I. Solids. The Journal of the American Chemical Society, 38, 2221–2295.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mane, V. S., & Vijay Babu, P. V. (2013). Kinetic and equilibrium studies on the removal of Congo red from aqueous solution using Eucalyptus wood (Eucalyptus globulus) saw dust. Journal of the Taiwan Institute of Chemical Engineers, 44, 81–88.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Milonjić, S. K. (2007). A consideration of the correct calculation of thermodynamic parameters of adsorption. Journal of the Serbian Chemical Society, 72, 1363–1367.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ofomaja, A. E., Naidoo, E. B., & Modise, S. J. (2010). Biosorption of copper(II) and lead(II) onto potassium hydroxide treated pine cone powder. Journal of Environmental Management, 91, 1674–1685.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Patel, H., & Vashi, R. T. (2012). Removal of Congo red dye from its aqueous solution using natural coagulants. Journal of Saudi Chemical Society, 16.

  • Poinern, G. E. J., Senanayake, G., Shah, N., Thi-Le, X. N., Parkinson, G. M., & Fawcett, D. (2011). Adsorption of the aurocyanide, complex on granular activated carbons derived from macadamia nut shells—a preliminary study. Minerals Engineering, 24, 1694–1702.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Purkait, M. K., Maiti, A., DasGupta, S., & De, S. (2007). Removal of Congo red using activated carbon and its regeneration. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 145, 287–295.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Reddy, K. S. K., Al Shoaibi, A., & Srinivasakannan, C. (2012). A comparison of microstructure and adsorption characteristics of activated carbons by CO2 and H3PO4 activation from date palm pits. New Carbon Materials, 27, 344–351.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Roginsky, S.Z., Zeldovich, J., (1934). Acta Physicochim. USSR, 554.

  • Salame, I. I., & Bandosz, T. J. (2001). Surface chemistry of activated carbons: combining the results of temperature-programmed desorption, boehm, and potentiometric titrations. Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, 240, 252–258.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Salleh, M. A. M., Mahmoud, D. K., Karim, W. A., & Idris, A. (2011). Cationic and anionic dye adsorption by agricultural solid wastes: a comprehensive review. Desalination, 280, 1–13.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sen, T. K., Afroze, S., & Ang, H. M. (2011). Equilibrium, kinetics and mechanism of removal of methylene blue from aqueous solution by adsorption onto pine cone biomass of Pinus radiata. Water, Air, and Soil Pollution, 218, 499–515.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shi, Q., Zhang, J., Zhang, C., Li, C., Zhang, B., Hu, W., et al. (2010). Preparation of activated carbon from cattail and its application for dyes removal. Journal of Environmental Sciences, 22, 91–97.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Singh, K., & Arora, S. (2011). Removal of synthetic textile dyes from wastewaters: a critical review on present treatment technologies. Critical Reviews in Environmental Science and Technology, 41, 807–878.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sreelatha, G., Ageetha, V., Parmar, J., & Padmaja, P. (2011). Equilibrium and kinetic studies on reactive dye adsorption using palm shell powder and chitosan. Journal of Chemical and Engineering Data, 56, 35–42.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sugumaran, P., Susan, V. P., Ravichandran, P., & Seshadri, S. (2012). Production and characterization of activated carbon from banana empty fruit bunch and Delonix regia fruit pod. Journal of Sustainable & Energy Environment, 3, 125–132.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tay, T., Ucar, S., & Karagöz, S. (2009). Preparation and characterization of activated carbon from waste biomass. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 165, 481–485.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Vadivelan, V., & Kumar, K. V. (2005). Equilibrium, kinetics, mechanism and process design for the sorption of methylene blue onto rice husk. Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, 286, 90–100.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Vimonses, V., Lei, S., Jin, B., Chow, C. W. K., & Saint, C. (2009). Kinetic study and equilibrium isotherm analysis of Congo red adsorption by clay materials. Chemical Engineering Journal, 148, 354.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yin, C. Y., Aroua, M. K., & Daud, W. M. A. W. (2007). Impregnation of palm shell activated carbon with polyethyleneimine and its effects on Cd2+ adsorption. Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects, 307, 128–136.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the Chemical Engineering Department of Curtin University-Perth for financial support, Chemical Engineering Laboratory Technicians.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemical Engineering, Curtin University, GPO Box U1987, 6145, Perth, Western Australia, Australia

    Sara Dawood, Tushar Kanti Sen & Chi Phan

Authors
  1. Sara Dawood
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Tushar Kanti Sen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Chi Phan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Tushar Kanti Sen.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Dawood, S., Sen, T.K. & Phan, C. Synthesis and Characterisation of Novel-Activated Carbon from Waste Biomass Pine Cone and Its Application in the Removal of Congo Red Dye from Aqueous Solution by Adsorption. Water Air Soil Pollut 225, 1818 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-013-1818-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-013-1818-4

Keywords

Search

Navigation