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Preparation, characterization, and dye removal study of activated carbon prepared from palm kernel shell

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Abstract

Palm oil mill wastes (palm kernel shell (PKS)) were used to prepare activated carbons, which were tested in the removal of colorants from water. The adsorbents were prepared by 1-h impregnation of PKS with ZnCl2 as the activating agent (PKS:ZnCl2 mass ratios of 1:1 and 2:1), followed by carbonization in autogenous atmosphere at 500 and 550 °C during 1 h. The characterization of the activated carbons included textural properties (porosity), surface chemistry (functional groups), and surface morphology. The dye removal performance of the different activated carbons was investigated by means of the uptake of methylene blue (MB) in solutions with various initial concentrations (25–400 mg/L of MB) at 30 °C, using a 0.05-g carbon/50-mL solution relationship. The sample prepared with 1:1 PKS:ZnCl2 and carbonized at 550 °C showed the highest MB adsorption capacity (maximum uptake at the equilibrium, q max = 225.3 mg MB / g adsorbent), resulting from its elevated specific surface area (BET, 1058 m2/g) and microporosity (micropore surface area, 721 m2/g). The kinetic experiments showed that removals over 90% of the equilibrium adsorptions were achieved after 4-h contact time in all the cases. The study showed that palm oil mill waste biomass could be used in the preparation of adsorbents efficient in the removal of colorants in wastewaters.

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Acknowledgments

The financial support from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (Research University Grants 03G44 and 03G39), National Scientific and Technical Research Council CONICET (PIP 593/13), and the bilateral cooperation (CONICET-UTM) project is gratefully acknowledged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Instituto de Investigaciones en Catálisis y Petroquímica “Ing. José Miguel Parera” INCAPE (UNL–CONICET), Colectora Ruta Nac. 168 Km 0–Paraje el Pozo, 3000, Santa Fe, Argentina

    Juan Rafael García & Ulises Sedran

  2. Centre of Lipids Engineering and Applied Research (CLEAR), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 81310 UTM, Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia

    Muhammad Abbas Ahmad Zaini

  3. Institute of Bioproduct Development IBD, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 81310 UTM, Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia

    Zainul Akmar Zakaria

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  1. Juan Rafael García
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  2. Ulises Sedran
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  3. Muhammad Abbas Ahmad Zaini
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  4. Zainul Akmar Zakaria
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Correspondence to Juan Rafael García.

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García, J.R., Sedran, U., Zaini, M.A.A. et al. Preparation, characterization, and dye removal study of activated carbon prepared from palm kernel shell. Environ Sci Pollut Res 25, 5076–5085 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-017-8975-8

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