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Improvement of oxygen-containing functional groups on olive stones activated carbon by ozone and nitric acid for heavy metals removal from aqueous phase

  • International Conference on Integrated Management of the Environment - ICIME 2014
  • Published:
Environmental Science and Pollution Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Recently, modification of surface structure of activated carbons in order to improve their adsorption performance toward especial pollutants has gained great interest. Oxygen-containing functional groups have been devoted as the main responsible for heavy metal binding on the activated carbon surface; their introduction or enhancement needs specific modification and impregnation methods. In the present work, olive stones activated carbon (COSAC) undergoes surface modifications in gaseous phase using ozone (O3) and in liquid phase using nitric acid (HNO3). The activated carbon samples were characterized using N2 adsorption–desorption isotherm, SEM, pHpzc, FTIR, and Boehm titration. The activated carbon parent (COSAC) has a high surface area of 1194 m2/g and shows a predominantly microporous structure. Oxidation treatments with nitric acid and ozone show a decrease in both specific surface area and micropore volumes, whereas these acidic treatments have led to a fixation of high amount of surface oxygen functional groups, thus making the carbon surface more hydrophilic. Activated carbon samples were used as an adsorbent matrix for the removal of Co(II), Ni(II), and Cu(II) heavy metal ions from aqueous solutions. Adsorption isotherms were obtained at 30 °C, and the data are well fitted to the Redlich–Peterson and Langmuir equation. Results show that oxidized COSACs, especially COSAC(HNO3), are capable to remove more Co(II), Cu(II), and Ni(II) from aqueous solution. Nitric acid-oxidized olive stones activated carbon was tested in its ability to remove metal ions from binary systems and results show an important maximum adsorbed amount as compared to single systems.

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Abbreviations

COSAC:

Olive stones activated carbon prepared by chemical activation using phosphoric acid

COSAC(HNO3):

Oxidized olive stones activated carbon with nitric acid

COSAC(O3):

Oxidized olive stones activated carbon with ozone

Ox-COSAC:

Oxidized olive stones activated carbon

ICP-AES:

Inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry

FTIR:

Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy

SEM:

Scanning electron microscope

A, B:

Redlich–Peterson parameters (L/g) and (L/mol)β

q :

Adsorption amount (mmol/g)

q binary :

Adsorption uptake from binary system (mmol/g)

q single :

Adsorption uptake from single solution (mmol/g)

K F :

Freundlich parameter (mmol/L)(L/g)(1/n)

n :

Freundlich constant

C :

Liquid phase concentration of metal ion concentration (mmol/L)

K L :

Langmuir parameter (L/mmol)

m :

The mass of adsorbent (g)

V :

Volume of metal ion solution (L)

β :

Redlich–Peterson constant

E:

Equilibrium

exp:

Experimental value

cal:

Value calculated by the model

s:

Sips model

maxs:

Maximum adsorbed quantity

PZC:

Point of zero charge

ts:

At time, t (min)

tots:

Total adsorbed

0:

Initial

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Acknowledgments

Sorptiometric and ICP-AES measurements realized by the Common Service Research Unit (USCR) of ENIG, University of Gabes, Tunisia, were gratefully acknowledged. FTIR analysis done by the Mass Spectrometry Unit, Technical Research Services Science and Technology Park of the University of Girona Pic Paguera 15, Girona, Catalonia (Spain), was gratefully acknowledged.

Compliance with ethical standards

This research does not involve any human or animal participants.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Funding

This study was funded by the budget of our laboratory, Laboratory of Research: Process Engineering and Industrial Systems (LR11ES54). Authors agree with all terms of compliance with ethical standards (COPE guidelines).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Research: Process Engineering and Industrial Systems (LR11ES54), National School of Engineers of Gabes, University of Gabès, 6026, Gabès, Tunisia

    Thouraya Bohli & Abdelmottaleb Ouederni

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  1. Thouraya Bohli
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  2. Abdelmottaleb Ouederni
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Correspondence to Thouraya Bohli.

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Responsible editor: Philippe Garrigues

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Bohli, T., Ouederni, A. Improvement of oxygen-containing functional groups on olive stones activated carbon by ozone and nitric acid for heavy metals removal from aqueous phase. Environ Sci Pollut Res 23, 15852–15861 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-015-4330-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-015-4330-0

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