Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Formation of improved activated carbons from sugarcane bagasse as environmental materials for adsorption of phenolic pollutants

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Phenolic pollutants are very toxic and their removal from aquatic resources is very important. Adsorption by activated carbon, AC, is the best method for removal of phenols from solutions. However, the high cost of AC and difficulty of its regeneration after phenol adsorption puts high demand on low price AC materials. Therefore, sugarcane bagasse as a sustainable, bulky and fibrous biomass was selected for the purpose of low-price AC formation for phenols adsorption. Sugarcane bagasse derived activated carbon, BAC, was achieved via an environmental thermo-chemical activation process using ZnCl2 followed by pyrolysis at different temperatures (400–600 °C). The formed BAC materials were characterized by elemental analysis, simultaneous TGA–DTA, ATR-FTIR, XRD, Raman spectroscopy, SEM, and nitrogen adsorption/desorption techniques. The BAC materials showed several enhanced characteristics including extra high specific surface area (up to 2046 m2/g), improved meso-/microporosity dual system and nanostructured graphitic-like structure composed of few graphene layers. Adsorption removal of phenol as an industrial waste pollutant was investigated from solutions of wide range of concentrations (50–1000 mg/L). The adsorption processes were characterized by (L2) class of adsorption isotherm, Langmuir isotherm model, physical-adsorption thermochemical parameters and pseudo-second-order kinetics. Adsorptions of two other substituted phenols (resorcinol and pyrogallol) were investigated. The adsorption capacity was increased with increasing of intramolecular bonding of the adsorbate in the order of phenol < resorcinol < pyrogallol. The present results emphasized the versatility of the formed BACs as environmentally sustainable adsorbent for phenolic pollutants.

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

  • Abo ELNaga AO, El Saied M, Shaban SA, El Kady FY (2019) Fast removal of diclofenac sodium from aqueous solution using sugar cane bagasse-derived activated carbon. J Mol Liquids 285:9–19. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molliq.2019.04.062

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Açıkyıldız M, Gürses A, Karaca S (2014) Preparation and characterization of activated carbon from plant wastes with chemical activation. Microporous Mesoporous Mater 198:45–49

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Adinaveen T, Kennedy LJ, Vijaya JJ, Sekaran G (2013) Studies on structural, morphological, electrical and electrochemical properties of activated carbon prepared from sugarcane bagasse. J Ind Eng Chem 19:1470–1476. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jiec.2013.01.010

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Al-Malack MH, Dauda M (2017) Competitive adsorption of cadmium and phenol on activated carbon produced from municipal sludge. J Environ Chem Eng 5:2718–2729

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Angin D (2014) Production and characterization of activated carbon from sour cherry stones by zinc chloride. Fuel 115:804–811

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bernal V, Giraldo L, Moreno-Piraján JC (2020) Adsorption of pharmaceutical aromatic pollutants on heat-treated activated carbons: effect of carbonaceous structure and the adsorbent-adsorbate interactions. ACS Omega 5:15247–15256. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsomega.0c01288

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Boontham W, Habaki H, Egashira R (2020) Removal of phenol from oil mill effluent using activated carbon prepared from Kernel Shell in Thailand’s Palm Industry. J Chem Eng Jpn 53:682–688

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Brunauer S, Emmett PH, Teller E (1938) Adsorption of gases in multimolecular layers. Am Chem Soc 60(1):309–319

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cai Y, Liu L, Tian H, Yang Z, Luo X (2019) Adsorption and desorption performance and mechanism of tetracycline hydrochloride by activated carbon-based adsorbents derived from sugar cane bagasse activated with ZnCl2. Molecules 24:4534. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules24244534

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chai X, He H, Fan H, Kang X, Song X (2019) A hydrothermal-carbonization process for simultaneously production of sugars, graphene quantum dots, and porous carbon from sugarcane bagasse. Bioresour Technol 282:142–147. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2019.02.126

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chen B, Chen Z (2009) Sorption of naphthalene and 1-naphthol by biochars of orange peels with different pyrolytic temperatures. Chemosphere 76:127–133. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2009.02.004

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Coates J (2000) Interpretation of infrared spectra, a practical approach. Encycl Anal Chem. https://doi.org/10.1002/9780470027318

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Congsomjit D, Areeprasert C (2020) Hydrochar-derived activated carbon from sugar cane bagasse employing hydrothermal carbonization and steam activation for syrup decolorization. Biomass Convers Biorefinery. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13399-020-00635-y

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dabrowski A, Podkoscielny P, Hubicki Z, Barczak M (2005) Adsorption of phenolic compounds by activated carbon-acritical review. Chemosphere 58(8):1049–1070

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Derylo-marczewska A, Buczek B, Swiatkowski A (2011) Effect of oxygen surface groups on adsorption of benzene derivatives from aqueous solutions onto active carbon samples. Appl Surf Sci 257:9466–9472. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsusc.2011.06.036

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dubinin MM, Radushkevich LV (1947) Equation of the characteristic curve of activated charcoal. Proc Acad Sci USSR Phys Chem Sect 55:331

    Google Scholar 

  • Eslami A, Borghei SM, Rashidi A, Takdastan A (2018) Preparation of activated carbon dots from sugarcane bagasse for naphthalene removal from aqueous solutions. Sep Sci Technol 53:2536–2549. https://doi.org/10.1080/01496395.2018.1462832

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ferrari AC (2007) Raman spectroscopy of graphene and graphite: disorder, electron–phonon coupling, doping and nonadiabatic effects. Solid State Commun 143:47–57

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Freundlich H (1909) einedarstellung der chemie der kolloide und verwantergebiete. Kapillarchemie. AcademisheBibliotek, Leipzig

    Google Scholar 

  • Ge X, Wu Z, Manzoli M, Wu Z, Cravotto G (2020) Feasibility and the mechanism of desorption of phenolic compounds from activated carbons. Ind Eng Chem Res 59:12223–12231

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Giles CH, D’Silva AP, Easton IA (1974a) A general treatment and classification of the solute adsorption isotherm, II. Experimental interpretation. J Colloid Interface Sci 47:766–778

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Giles CH, Smith D, Huitson A (1974b) A general treatment and classification of the solute adsorption isotherm. I. Theoretical. J Colloid Interface Sci 47:755–765

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Girods P, Dufour A, Fierro V, Rogaume Y, Rogaume C, Zoulalian A, Celzard A (2009) Activated carbons prepared from wood particleboard wastes: characterisation and phenol adsorption capacities. J Hazard Mater 166:491–501

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gonçalves R, Martins C, Mendes N, Farias L, Sousa D, Cristina R et al (2014) Preparation of activated carbons from cocoa shells and siriguela seeds using H 3 PO 4 and ZnCL 2 as activating agents for BSA and α -lactalbumin adsorption. Fuel Process Technol 126(2014):476–486. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuproc.2014.06.001

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Greish AA, Sokolovskiy PV, Finashina ED, Kustov LM, Vezentsev AI, Chien ND (2021) Adsorption of phenol and 2,4-dichlorophenol on carbon-containing sorbent produced from sugar cane bagasse. Mendeleev Commun 31(1):121–122. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mencom.2021.01.038

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gundogdu A, Duran C, Senturk HB, Soylak M, Ozdes D, Serencam H, Imamoglu M (2012) Adsorption of phenol from aqueous solution on a low-cost activated carbon produced from tea industry waste: equilibrium, kinetic, and thermodynamic study. J Chem Eng Data 57:2733–2743. https://doi.org/10.1021/je300597u

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Halsey G (1948) Physical adsorption on non-uniform surfaces. J Chem Phys 16(10):931

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hameed BH, Rahman AA (2008) Removal of phenol from aqueous solutions by adsorption onto activated carbon prepared from biomass material. J Hazard Mater 160:576–581

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hazzaa R, Hussein M (2015) Adsorption of cationic dye from aqueous solution onto activated carbon prepared from olive stones. Environ Technol Innov 4:36–51

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Karri RR, Sahub JN, Jayakumar NS (2017a) Optimal isotherm parameters for phenol adsorption from aqueous solutions onto coconut shell based activated carbon: error analysis of linear and non-linear methods. J Taiwan Inst Chem Eng 80(2017):472–487

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Karri RR, Jayakumar NS, Sahu JN (2017b) Modelling of fluidised-bed reactor by differential evolution optimization for phenol removal using coconut shells based activated carbon. J Mol Liq 231:249–262

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Karri RR, Sahu JN, Meikap BC (2020) Improving efficacy of Cr (VI) adsorption process on sustainable adsorbent derived from waste biomass (sugarcane bagasse) with help of ant colony optimization. Ind Crops Product 143:111927 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indcrop.2019.111927

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Khalil KMS, Allam OAS, Khairy M, Mohamed KMH, Elkhatib RM, Hamed MA (2017) High surface area nanostructured activated carbons derived from sustainable sorghum stalk. J Mol Liq 247:386–396

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Khenniche L, Benissad-Aissani F (2010) Adsorptive removal of phenol by coffee residue activated carbon and commercial activated carbon: equilibrium, kinetics, and thermodynamics. J Chem Eng Data 55(11):4677–4686. https://doi.org/10.1021/je100302e

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Khraisheh M, Al-Ghouti MA, AlMomani F (2020) P. putida as biosorbent for the remediation of cobalt and phenol from industrial waste waste waters. Environ Technol Innov 20:101148. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eti.2020.101148

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kumar A, Jena MH (2016) Removal of methylene blue and phenol onto prepared activated carbon from Fox nutshell by chemical activation in batch and fixed-bed column. J Clean Prod 137:1246–1259

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Langmuir I (1918) The adsorption of gases on plane surface of glass, mica and olatinum. J Am Chem Soc 40:1361–1403. https://doi.org/10.1021/ja02242a004

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Liou T (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. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2009.12.016

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Long S, Du Q, Wang S, Tang P, Li D (2019) Graphene two-dimensional crystal prepared from cellulose two-dimensional crystal hydrolysed from sustainable biomass sugarcane bagasse. J Clean Prod 241:118209. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.118209

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lorenc-Grabowska E, Diez MA, Gryglewicz G (2016) Influence of pore size distribution on the adsorption of phenol on PET-based activated carbons. J Colloid Interface Sci 469:205–212

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Luo X (2019) Cr (VI) adsorption performance and mechanism of an effective activated carbon prepared from bagasse with a one-step pyrolysis and ZnCl2 activation method. Cellulose 26:4921–4934. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10570-019-02418-9

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Magne P, Walker PL Jr (1986) Phenol adsorption on activated carbons: application to the regeneration of activated carbons polluted with phenol. Carbon 24(1986):101–107

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mattson JS, Mark HB Jr, Malbin MD, Weber WJ Jr, Crittenden JC (1969) Surface chemistry of active carbon: specific adsorption of phenols. J Colloid Interface Sci 31:116–130

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Michailof C, Stavropoulos GG, Panayiotou C (2008) Enhanced adsorption of phenolic compounds, commonly encountered in olive mill wastewaters, on olive husk derived activated carbons. Bioresour Technol 99(14):6400–6408

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mohammed NAS, Abu-Zurayk RA, Hamadneh I, Al-Dujaili AH (2018) Phenol adsorption on biochar prepared from the pine fruit shells: equilibrium, kinetic and thermodynamics studies. J Environ Manag 226:377–385

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Okolo B, Park C, Keane MA (2000) Interaction of phenol and chlorophenols with activated carbon and synthetic zeolites in aqueous media. J Colloid Interface Sci 226:308. https://doi.org/10.1006/jcis.2000.6796

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pezoti O, Cazetta AL, Souza IP, Bedin KC, Martins AC, Silva TL, Almeida VC (2014) Adsorption studies of methylene blue onto ZnCl2-activated carbon produced from buriti shells (Mauritia flexuosa L.). Ind Eng Chem 20:4401–4407

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Priya DS, Sureshkumar MV (2020) Synthesis of Borassus flabellifer fruit husk activated carbon flter for phenol removal from wastewater. Int J Environ Sci Technol 17:829–842. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13762-019-02325-3

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rambabu N, Rao BVSK, Surisetty VR, Das U, Dalai AK (2014) Production, characterization, and evaluation of activated carbons from de-oiled canola meal for environmental applications. Ind Crops Prod 65:572–581

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rangabhashiyam S, Anu N, Giri Nandagopal MS, Selvaraju N (2014) Relevance of isotherm models in biosorption of pollutants by agricultural, byproducts. J Environ Chem Eng 2:398–414

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shi J, Wang Y, Du W, Hou Z (2016) Synthesis of graphene encapsulated Fe3C in carbon nanotubes from biomass and its catalysis application. Carbon 99:330–337

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sing KSW, Everett DH, Haul RAW, Moscou L, Pierotti RA, Rouquerol J, Siemieniewska T (1985) Reporting physisorption data for gas/solid systems with special reference to the determination of surface area and porosity (Recommendations 1984). Pure Appl Chem 57(4):603–619

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Solís-fuentes JA, Galán-méndez F, Hernández-medel MR, García-gómez RS, Bernal-gonzález M, Mendoza-pérez S et al (2019) Effectiveness of bagasse activated carbon in raw cane juice clarification. Food Biosci 32:100437. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fbio.2019.100437

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Srivastava VC, Swamy MM, Mall I, Prasad B, Mishra I (2006) Adsorptive removal of phenol by bagasse fly ash and activated carbon: equilibrium, kinetics and thermodynamics. Colloids Surf 272:89–104

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Strachowski P, Bystrzejewski M (2015) Comparative studies of sorption of phenolic compounds onto carbon-encapsulated iron nanoparticles, carbon nanotubes and activated carbon. Colloids Surf A 467:113–123. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.colsurfa.2014.11.044

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Temkin MJ, Phyzev V (1940) Recent modifications to Langmuir isotherms. Acta Physiochim USSR 12:217–222

    Google Scholar 

  • Velasco LF, Carmona RJ, Matos J, Ania CO (2014) Performance of activated carbons in consecutive phenol photooxidation cycles. Carbon 73:206–215

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Villegas LGC, Mashhadi N, Chen M, Mukherjee D, Taylor KE, Biswas N (2016) A short review of techniques for phenol removal from wastewater. Curr Pollut Rep. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40726-016-0035-3

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang Y, Su F, Wood CD, Lee JY, Zhao XS (2008) Preparation and characterization of carbon nanospheres as anode materials in lithium-ion secondary batteries. Ind Eng Chem Res 47:2294–2300

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wassie AB, Srivastava VC (2016) (2016) Chemical treatment of teff straw by sodium hydroxide, phosphoric acid and zinc chloride: adsorptive removal of chromium. Int J Environ Sci Technol 13:2415–2426. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13762-016-1080-6

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yagmur E, Turkoglu S, Banford A, Aktas Z (2017) The relative performance of microwave regenerated activated carbons on the removal of phenolic pollutants. J Clean Prod 149:1109–1117

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yang T, Lua AC (2006) Textural and chemical properties of zinc chloride activated carbons prepared from pistachio-nut shells. Mater Chem Phys 100:438–444

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yang J, Qiu K (2010) Preparation of activated carbons from walnut shells via vacuum chemical activation and their application for methylene blue removal. Chem Eng J 165:209–217

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhu G, Deng X, Hou M, Sun K, Zhang Y, Li P, Liang F (2016) Comparative study on characterization and adsorption properties of activated carbons by phosphoric acid activation from corncob and its acid and alkaline hydrolysis residues. Fuel Process Technol 144:255–261

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors are greatly acknowledged the fund received during this project sponsored by STDF (Egypt). Grant number: TC Water ID 20709, PI: Prof. Kamal M.S. Khalil.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Sohag University, Sohag, 82524, Egypt

    K. M. S. Khalil, M. Khairy & O. A. S. Allam

  2. Agricultural Research Center, ARC, Ministry of Agriculture, Giza, Egypt

    O. A. S. Allam

  3. Faculty of Medicine, Sohag University, Sohag, 82524, Egypt

    M. K. Khalil

Authors
  1. K. M. S. Khalil
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. M. Khairy
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. O. A. S. Allam
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. M. K. Khalil
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to K. M. S. Khalil.

Additional information

Editorial responsibility: Binbin Huang.

Supplementary Information

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

Supplementary file 1 (PDF 146 KB)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Khalil, K.M.S., Khairy, M., Allam, O.A.S. et al. Formation of improved activated carbons from sugarcane bagasse as environmental materials for adsorption of phenolic pollutants. Int. J. Environ. Sci. Technol. 19, 3103–3116 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13762-021-03382-3

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13762-021-03382-3

Keywords

Search

Navigation