Abstract
The use of argan nut shell as a precursor for producing activated carbon was investigated in this work. Two activated carbons AC-HP and AC-Na were prepared from argan nut shell by chemical activation method using phosphoric acid (H3PO4) and sodium hydroxide (NaOH), respectively. Textural, morphological, and surface chemistry characteristics were studied by nitrogen physisorption, TGA, SEM, TXRF, FTIR, XRD, and by determining the pHPZC of the AC-HP. The adsorption experiments revealed that AC-HP was more efficient in adsorption of BPA due to high specific surface area (1372 m2/g) compared to AC-Na (798 m2/g). The obtained adsorption data of BPA on AC-HP correlated well with the pseudo-second-order model and the Langmuir isotherm (Qmax = 1250 mg/g at 293 K). The thermodynamic parameters (ΔG° < 0, ΔH° < 0, and ΔS° < 0) indicate that adsorption of BPA on AC-HP was spontaneous and exothermic in nature. The regeneration of AC-HP showed excellent results after 5 cycles (95–93%). This work does not only provide a potential way to use argan nut shell but also represents a sustainable approach to synthesize AC-HP, which might be an ideal material for various applications (energy storage, catalysis, and environmental remediation).
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Acknowledgments
The research leading to these results has received funding from the European Union Seventh Framework Programme [FP/2007-2013) under the grant agreement no. [PIRSES-GA-2012-317714]. No-Waste. The work has been supported also by the Academy of Finland via the AOPI-project (number 263580).
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Zbair, M., Ainassaari, K., Drif, A. et al. Toward new benchmark adsorbents: preparation and characterization of activated carbon from argan nut shell for bisphenol A removal. Environ Sci Pollut Res 25, 1869–1882 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-017-0634-6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-017-0634-6