Author(s):
1. F. O. Nwosu:
Department of Industrial Chemistry, Faculty of Physical Sciences, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria
2. F. A. Adekola:
Department of Industrial Chemistry, Faculty of Physical Sciences, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria
3. A. O. Salami:
Department of Industrial Chemistry, Faculty of Physical Sciences, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria
Abstract:
An economically feasible technology for the removal of pollutants from wastewater is adsorption.
Active carbon was prepared by single stage method via chemical impregnation of pili Nut-Shell
(PNS) with orthophosphoric acid and activation at a temperature of 450oC using precursor-acid
ratio of 1:4 for a period of 2 h. The effects of initial concentration, contact time, adsorbent dose
and pH on the uptake of 4-nitrophenol / para-nitrophenol (PNP) using pili nut-based active carbon
(PAC) were determined. The PAC maximum adsorption capacity value (190.39 mg/g) was
obtained at an initial concentration of 1000 mg/L and was found to be greater than that of a
commercial granular active carbon (CGAC) (166.97 mg/g) at an initial concentration of 800 mg/L.
The BET surface area and total pore volume of PAC (960 m2/g, 0.422 cm3/g) respectively were
also greater than that of CGAC (426.3 m2/g, 0.208 cm3/g). The pore size distribution of the PAC
(2.842 nm) classifies it to be within range of super-microporous and as such could be used for
toxic gas removal as well as small liquid molecules. The Langmuir isotherm best described the
adsorption of PNP onto PAC, while pseudo second order kinetics fitted best. The adsorption
process was exothermic and spontaneous. Thus, active carbon produced from PNS can be used to
adsorb PNP.
Page(s):
69-83
DOI:
DOI not available
Published:
Journal: Pakistan Journal of Analytical & Environmental Chemistry, Volume: 18, Issue: 1, Year: 2017
Keywords:
kinetics
,
thermodynamics
,
Isotherm
,
Pili nut
,
4Nitrophenol
,
Active carbon
References:
References are not available for this document.
Citations
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