Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The performance of phosphoric acid in the preparation of activated carbon-containing phosphorus species from rice husk residue

  • Materials for life sciences
  • Published:
Journal of Materials Science Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The performance of phosphoric acid (H3PO4) in the preparation of activated carbon-containing phosphorus species (P-species) using rice husk residues as feedstock was studied. In the activation process, the consequent pretreatments by NaOH and HCl, respectively, remove the silica and ash thoroughly, which led to cracks and pore opening. While H3PO4 acting as activation regent interacted with the phenolic and carbonyl groups of activated carbon, forming P-containing carbonaceous species (such as C–O–P), which further promoted the development of micropore of the activated carbon and then increased the surface area, H3PO4 also acted as catalyst to adjust and control the texture properties and structures of activated carbon. The activated carbon (PC-2.5) prepared at 500 °C for 2 h using H3PO4-treated carbon residue with acid/carbon mass ratio of 2.5 (g/g) achieved the maximum surface area of 1365 m2/g. Interestingly, the P-species formed in the activated carbon exhibited high-efficiency catalytic effects for the treatment of municipal waste landfill leachate to a disposable quality, where the removal rate of pollutant from landfill leachate over 90% and a high removal of TN (84%), COD (82%) and NH4+–N (100%) were obtained.

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

Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
Figure 4
Scheme 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Vispute TP, Zhang HY, Sanna A, Xiao R, Huber GW (2010) Renewable chemical commodity feedstocks from integrated catalytic processing of pyrolysis oils. Science 330:1222–1227

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Stocker M (2008) Biofuels and biomass-to-liquid fuels in the biorefinery: catalytic conversion of lignocellulosic biomass using porous materials. Angew Chem Int Ed 47:9200–9211

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Wong S, Ngadi N, Inuwa IM, Hassan O (2018) Recent advances in applications of activated carbon from biowaste for wastewater treatment: a short review. J Cleaner Prod 175:361–375

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Villota EM, Lei H, Qian M et al (2017) Optimizing microwave-assisted pyrolysis of phosphoric acid-activated biomass: impact of concentration on heating rate and carbonization time. ACS Sustain Chem Eng 6:1318–1326

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Chingombe P, Saha B, Wakeman RJ (2005) Surface modification and characterisation of a coal-based activated carbon. Carbon 43:3132–3143

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Yu X, Wang S, Zhang J (2018) Preparation of high adsorption performance activated carbon by pyrolysis of waste polyester fabric. J Mater Sci 53:5458–5466. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-017-1928-2

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Zhang X, Li Y, Li G, Hu C (2015) Preparation of Fe/activated carbon directly from rice husk pyrolytic carbon and its application in catalytic hydroxylation of phenol. RSC Adv 5:4984–4992

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Alvarez J, Lopez G, Amutio M, Bilbao J, Olazar M (2015) Physical activation of rice husk pyrolysis char for the production of high surface area activated carbons. Ind Eng Chem Res 54(29):7241–7250

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Fu Y, Shen Y, Zhang Z, Ge X, Chen M (2019) Activated bio-chars derived from rice husk via one- and two-step KOH-catalyzed pyrolysis for phenol adsorption. Sci Total Environ 646:1567–1577

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Liou TH, Wu SJ (2009) Characteristics of microporous/mesoporous carbons prepared from rice husk under base- and acid-treated conditions. J Hazard Mater 171:693–703

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Zubrik A, Matik M, Hredzak S et al (2017) Preparation of chemically activated carbon from waste biomass by single-stage and two-stage pyrolysis. J Clean Prod 143:643–653

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Jain A, Jayaraman S, Balasubramanian R, Srinivasan MP (2014) Hydrothermal pre-treatment for mesoporous carbon synthesis: enhancement of chemical activation. J Mater Chem A 2:520–528

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Kula I, Ugurlu M, Karaoglu H, Celik A (2008) Adsorption of Cd(II) ions from aqueous solutions using activated carbon prepared from olive stone by ZnCl2 activation. Bioresour Technol 99:492–501

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Namane A, Mekarzia A, Benrachedi K, Belhaneche-Bensemra N, Hellal A (2005) Determination of the adsorption capacity of activated carbon made from coffee grounds by chemical activation with ZnCl2 and H3PO4. J Hazard Mater 119:189–194

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Song X, Zhang Y, Chang C (2012) Novel method for preparing activated carbons with high specific surface area from rice husk. Ind Eng Chem Res 51:15075–15081

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Azmi NB, Bashir MJK, Sethupathi S, Wei LJ, Aun NC (2015) Stabilized landfill leachate treatment by sugarcane bagasse derived activated carbon for removal of color, COD and NH3–N—optimization of preparation conditions by RSM. J Environ Chem Eng 3:1287–1294

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Li Y, Zhang X, Yang R, Li G, Hu C (2015) The role of H3PO4 in the preparation of activated carbon from NaOH-treated rice husk residue. RSC Adv 5:32626–32636

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Fu Y, Zhang N, Shen Y, Ge X, Chen M (2018) Micro-mesoporous carbons from original and pelletized rice husk via onestep catalytic pyrolysis. Bioresour Technol 269:67–73

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Liu X, He C, Yu X et al (2018) Net-like porous activated carbon materials from shrimp shell by solution-processed carbonization and H3PO4 activation for methylene blue adsorption. Powder Technol 326:181–189

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Li Y, Zhang X, Yang R, Li G, Hu C (2016) Removal of dyes from aqueous solutions using activated carbon prepared from rice husk residue. Water Sci Technol 73:1122–1128

    Google Scholar 

  21. Khan EA, Shahjahan Khan TA (2018) Adsorption of methyl red on activated carbon derived from custard apple (Annona squamosa) fruit shell: equilibrium isotherm and kinetic studies. J Mol Liq 249:1195–1211

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Danish M, Ahmad T, Nadhari WNAW et al (2018) Optimization of banana trunk-activated carbon production for methylene blue-contaminated water treatment. Appl Water Sci 8:1–11

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Ahmad AA, Hameed BH (2010) Effect of preparation conditions of activated carbon from bamboo waste for real textile wastewater. J Hazard Mater 173:487–493

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Kamaruddin MA, Yusoff MS, Ahmad MA (2011) Optimization of durian peel based activated carbon preparation conditions for ammoniacal nitrogen removal from semi-aerobic landfill leachate. J Sci Ind Res 70:554–560

    Google Scholar 

  25. Puziy AM, Poddubnaya OI, Socha RP, Gurgul J, Wisniewski M (2008) XPS and NMR studies of phosphoric acid activated carbons. Carbon 46:2113–2123

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Foo KY, Hameed BH (2009) An overview of landfill leachate treatment via activated carbon adsorption process. J Hazard Mater 171:54–60

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Shen YF (2017) Rice husk silica derived nanomaterials for sustainable applications. Renew Sust Energ Rev 80:453–466

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Liu Y, Guo Y, Gao W, Wang Z, Ma Y, Wang Z (2012) Simultaneous preparation of silica and activated carbon from rice husk ash. J Clean Prod 32:204–209

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Liu H, Li G, Hu C (2013) Selective ring C–H bonds activation of toluene over Fe/activated carbon catalyst. J Mol Catal A: Chem 377:143–153

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Boehm HP, Diehl E, Heck W, Sappok R (1964) Surface oxides of carbon. Angew Chem Int Ed 3:669–677

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Gilcreas FW (1985) Standard methods for the examination of water and waste water. Am J Public Health Nations Health 56:387–388

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Pradhana BK, Sandleac NK (1999) Effect of different oxidizing agent treatments on the surface properties of activated carbons. Carbon 37:1323–1332

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Tseng HH, Wey MY, Fu CH (2003) Carbon materials as catalyst supports for SO2 oxidation: catalytic activity of CuO–AC. Carbon 41:139–149

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. Chen Y, Zhai SR, Liu N, Song Y, An QD, Song XW (2013) Dye removal of activated carbons prepared from NaOH-pretreated rice husks by low-temperature solution-processed carbonization and H3PO4 activation. Bioresour Technol 144:401–409

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. Han S, Zhao F, Sun J, Wang B, Wei R, Yan S (2013) Removal of p-nitrophenol from aqueous solution by magnetically modified activated carbon. J Magn Magn Mater 341:133–137

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. Cazetta AL, Pezoti O, Bedin KC et al (2016) Magnetic activated carbon derived from biomass waste by concurrent synthesis: efficient adsorbent for toxic dyes. ACS Sustain Chem Eng 4:1058–1068

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. Brunauer S, Deming LS, Deming WE, Teller E (1940) On a theory of the van der Waals adsorption of gases. J Am Chem Soc 62:1723–1732

    Article  Google Scholar 

  38. Timur S, Kantarli IC, Ikizoglu E, Yanik J (2006) Preparation of activated carbons from Oreganum stalks by chemical activation. Energy Fuels 20:2636–2641

    Article  Google Scholar 

  39. Puziy AM, Poddubnaya OI, Martínez-Alonso A, Suárez-García F, Tascón JMD (2002) Synthetic carbons activated with phosphoric acid: I. Surface chemistry and ion binding properties. Carbon 40:1493–1505

    Article  Google Scholar 

  40. Liou TH (2010) Development of mesoporous structure and high adsorption capacity of biomass-based activated carbon by phosphoric acid and zinc chloride activation. Chem Eng J 158:129–142

    Article  Google Scholar 

  41. Ye J, Liu JG, Zhou Y, Zou Z, Gu J, Yu T (2009) High catalytic performance and stability of Pt/C using acetic acid functionalized carbon. J Power Sour 194:683–689

    Article  Google Scholar 

  42. Zhong Y, Li G, Zhu L, Yan Y, Wu G, Hu C (2007) Low temperature hydroxylation of benzene to phenol by hydrogen peroxide over Fe/activated carbon catalyst. J Mol Catal A: Chem 272:169–173

    Article  Google Scholar 

  43. Wu X, Radovic LR (2006) Inhibition of catalytic oxidation of carbon/carbon composites by phosphorus. Carbon 44:141–151

    Article  Google Scholar 

  44. Zhang Y, Pan K, Zhong Q (2013) Characteristics of activated carbon and carbon nanotubes as adsorbents to remove annatto (Norbixin) in cheese whey. J Agric Food Chem 61:9230–9240

    Article  Google Scholar 

  45. Li W, Zhang L, Peng J, Li N, Zhu XY (2008) Preparation of high surface area activated carbons from tobacco stems with K2CO3 activation using microwave radiation. Indus Crops Prod 27:341–347

    Article  Google Scholar 

  46. Kan Y, Yue Q, Li D, Wu Y, Gao B (2017) Preparation and characterization of activated carbons from waste tea by H3PO4 activation in different atmospheres for oxytetracycline removal. J Taiwan Inst Chem Eng 71:494–500

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This work is financially supported by the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (No. 2018M631102), Sichuan Science and Technology Program (No. 2018JY0207), National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 51478448), the Youth Innovation Promotion Association CAS (No. 2017423), the Deployment Project of Chinese Academy of Science (KFZD-SW-313) and Key Laboratory of Environmental and Applied Microbiology & Environmental Microbiology Key Laboratory of Sichun Province, Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (No. KLCAS-2018-5). We would like to thank Yunfei Tian of Analytical & Testing Center of Sichuan University for XPS experiments.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Environmental and Applied Microbiology, Environmental Microbiology Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 9, Section 4, Renmin Nan Road, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, People’s Republic of China

    Yiping Luo, Dong Li, Yichao Chen, Xiaoying Sun, Qin Cao & Xiaofeng Liu

Authors
  1. Yiping Luo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Dong Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Yichao Chen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Xiaoying Sun
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Qin Cao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Xiaofeng Liu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

Y.L. carried out the majority of the experiment and wrote the paper. Y.C. and X.S. helped with the analysis of SEM and XRD analysis. Q.C. helped with the treatment of landfill leachate using different carbon samples. D.L. and X.L. supervised the project and revised the paper. All authors have given approval to the final version of the manuscript and contributed to the scientific discussion.

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Dong Li or Xiaofeng Liu.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Electronic supplementary material

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

Supplementary material 1 (DOC 3595 kb)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Luo, Y., Li, D., Chen, Y. et al. The performance of phosphoric acid in the preparation of activated carbon-containing phosphorus species from rice husk residue. J Mater Sci 54, 5008–5021 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-018-03220-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-018-03220-x

Keywords

Search

Navigation