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Optimization of Process Variables to Prepare Mesoporous Activated Carbon from Mustard Straw for Dye Adsorption Using Response Surface Methodology

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Abstract

In present work, mustard straw, an abundantly available agricultural residue in various parts of globe, is used to prepare a low-cost activated carbon by chemical activation using phosphoric acid. Response surface methodology is employed for optimization of adsorption of methylene blue dye onto mustard straw-activated carbon (MSAC). Central composite design is employed to evaluate the effect of three production variables namely activation temperature (400–800 °C), activation time (60–120 min), and impregnation ratio (2–7), on adsorption capacities of activated carbon to maximize methylene blue dye removal from its aqueous solution. Among the three process variables, activation time showed prominent effect on the response whereas the effect of activation temperature was relatively less significant on adsorption capacity of MB. The optimum conditions obtained for MSAC are activation temperature, 768 °C; activation time, 60 min; and impregnation ratio, 4.2, which leads to 198 mg g−1 adsorption capacity of methylene blue. The model predicted and experimental value for response were highly comparable. Characterization of MSAC was done using several analytical techniques such as Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and field emission scanning electron microscopy techniques, and reusability up to five adsorption-desorption cycles was tested. The results showed that MSAC obtained has highly porous structure comparable with activated carbon obtained from other biomass feed stocks.

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Funding

The authorities of Malaviya National Institute of Technology, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India, provided financial and infrastructural support for conducting the research work.

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  1. Department of Chemical Engineering, Malaviya National Institute of Technology, Jaipur, Rajasthan, 302017, India

    Kalpana Patidar & Manish Vashishtha

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  1. Kalpana Patidar
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  2. Manish Vashishtha
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Correspondence to Manish Vashishtha.

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Patidar, K., Vashishtha, M. Optimization of Process Variables to Prepare Mesoporous Activated Carbon from Mustard Straw for Dye Adsorption Using Response Surface Methodology. Water Air Soil Pollut 231, 526 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-020-04893-4

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