Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Activated carbon obtained from sapelli wood sawdust by microwave heating for o-cresol adsorption

  • Published:
Research on Chemical Intermediates Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Activated carbon (AC) was prepared from sapelli wood sawdust using a microwave heating process. The biomass was mixed with inorganic components (lime + ZnCl2 and FeCl3) to form a homogeneous paste. The AC samples are denoted as AC-1A (100 g sapelli wood sawdust + 20 g lime + 80 g ZnCl2), AC-2A (150 g sapelli wood sawdust + 20 g lime + 80 g ZnCl2), AC-1B (100 g sapelli wood sawdust + 20 g lime + 40 g ZnCl2 + 40 g FeCl3), and AC-2B (150 g sapelli wood sawdust + 20 g lime + 40 g ZnCl2 + 40 g FeCl3). The samples were placed in a microwave oven and pyrolyzed under nitrogen flow. To increase their porosity, the pyrolyzed samples were subjected to a leaching process (with 6 mol L−1 HCl) under reflux to eliminate inorganic components. Several analytical techniques such as Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and N2 isotherm and vapor adsorption analyses were performed to characterize the AC materials. The samples presented high Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) surface areas, up to 941.08 m2 g−1 for AC-1A. The AC materials were tested for their o-cresol removal ability by determining the best fits to equilibrium and kinetic data using the Sips isotherm and fractional-order model, respectively. The maximum adsorption capacity of the AC samples as obtained from the Sips model was correlated with the surface area. The proposed adsorption mechanism suggests that hydrogen bonding, donor–acceptor complexation, and π–π interactions play key roles. The adsorbents were also tested for treatment of simulated industrial effluents, showing very good efficiency. Almost complete regeneration of the AC adsorbents was achieved using 10 % EtOH + 5 mol L−1 NaOH as eluent. These results demonstrate that sapelli wood sawdust is a promising precursor for preparation of AC to remove o-cresol from aqueous solution.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. R.G. Dolatto, I. Messerschmidt, B.F. Pereira, R. Martinazzo, G. Abate, Preconcentration of polar phenolic compounds from water samples and soil extract by liquid-phase microextraction and determination via liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection. Talanta 148, 292–300 (2016)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. H. Babich, D.L. Davis, Phenol: a review of environmental and health risks. Regul. Toxicol. Pharm. 1, 90–109 (1981)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. C.A. Arenal, B.E. Sample, Wildlife toxicity assessment for phenol, in Wildlife toxicity assessments for chemicals of military concern, ed. by M.S. Johnson, M. Williams, G. Reddy, M. Quinn (Elsevier, Amsterdam, 2015), pp. 555–579

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  4. R. Wissiack, E. Rosenberg, Universal screening method for the determination of US Environmental Protection Agency phenols at the lower ng l−1 level in water samples by on-line solid-phase extraction-high-performance liquid chromatography-atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry within a single run. J. Chromatogr. A 963, 149–157 (2002)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. H. Pasdar, R. Marand, Effect of phenol loading on wastewater treatment by activated sludge process. J. Basic Appl. Sci. Res. 3, 121–126 (2013)

    Google Scholar 

  6. C.E. Paisio, M.R. Quevedo, M.A. Talano, P.S. González, E. Agostini, Application of two bacterial strains for wastewater bioremediation and assessment of phenolics biodegradation. Environ. Technol. 35, 1802–1810 (2014)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. T. Saitoh, K. Fukushima, A. Miwa, Combined use of surfactant-induced coagulation of poly(allylamine hydrochloride) with peroxidase-mediated degradation for the rapid removal of estrogens and phenolic compounds from water. Sep. Purif. Technol. 128, 11–17 (2014)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. F. Bazzarelli, E. Piacentini, T. Poerio, R. Mazzei, A. Cassano, L. Giorno, Advances in membrane operations for water purification and biophenols recovery/valorization from OMWWs. J. Membr. Sci. 497, 402–409 (2016)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. M. Irani, L.R. Rad, H. Pourahmad, I. Haririan, Optimization of the combined adsorption/photo-Fenton method for the simultaneous removal of phenol and paracetamol in a binary system. Micropor. Mesopor. Mater. 206, 1–7 (2015)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. P.V. Aken, R.V. den Broeck, J. Degrève, R. Dewil, The effect of ozonation on the toxicity and biodegradability of 2,4-dichlorophenol-containing wastewater. Chem. Eng. J. 280, 728–736 (2015)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. A.M. Al-Hamdi, M. Sillanpaa, J. Dutta, Intermediate formation during photodegradation of phenol using lanthanum doped tin dioxide nanoparticles. Res. Chem. Intermed. 42, 3055–3069 (2016)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. T.T.T. Dang, S.T.T. Le, D. Channei, W. Khanitchaidecha, A. Nakaruk, Photodegradation mechanisms of phenol in the photocatalytic process. Res. Chem. Intermed. (2016). doi:10.1007/s11164-015-2417-3

    Google Scholar 

  13. N. Douara, B. Bestani, N. Benderdouche, L. Duclaux, Sawdust-based activated carbon ability in the removal of phenol-based organics from aqueous media. Desalin. Water Treat. 57, 5529–5545 (2016)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. N. Singh, C. Balomajumder, Simultaneous biosorption and bioaccumulation of phenol and cyanide using coconut shell activated carbon immobilized Pseudomonas putida (MTCC 1194). J. Environ. Chem. Eng. 4, 1604–1614 (2016)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. J. Pal, M.K. Deb, D.K. Deshmukh, Removal of phenol in aqueous solution by adsorption onto green synthesized coinage nanoparticles beads. Res. Chem. Intermed. 41, 8363–8379 (2015)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. R. Sudha, K. Srinivasan, P. Premkumar, Kinetic, mechanism and equilibrium studies on removal of Pb(II) using Citrus limettioides peel and seed carbon. Res. Chem. Intermed. 42, 1677–1697 (2016)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. G.S. dos Reis, M. Wilhelm, T.C.A. Silva, K. Rezwan, C.H. Sampaio, E.C. Lima, S.M.A.G.U. Souza, The use of design of experiments for the evaluation of the production of surface-rich activated carbon from sewage sludge via microwave and conventional pyrolysis. Appl. Therm. Eng. 93, 590–597 (2016)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. G.S. dos Reis, M.A. Adebayo, E.C. Lima, C.H. Sampaio, L.D.T. Prola, Activated carbon from sewage sludge for preconcentration of copper. Anal. Lett. 49, 541–555 (2016)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. P. Humpola, H. Odetti, J.C. Moreno-Pirajan, L. Giraldo, Activated carbons obtained from agro-industrial waste: textural analysis and adsorption environmental pollutants. Adsorption 22, 23–31 (2016)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. B. Acevedo, R.P. Rocha, M.F.R. Pereira, J.L. Figueiredo, C. Barriocanal, Adsorption of dyes by ACs prepared from waste tyre reinforcing fibre: effect of texture, surface chemistry and pH. J. Colloid Interf. Sci. 459, 189–198 (2015)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. S. Malathi, N. Krishnaveni, R. Sudha, Adsorptive removal of lead(II) from an aqueous solution by chemically modified cotton seed cake. Res. Chem. Intermed. 42, 2285–2302 (2016)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. M.J. Ahmed, Application of agricultural based activated carbons by microwave and conventional activations for basic dye adsorption: review. J. Environ. Chem. Eng. 4, 89–99 (2016)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Anonyme, Etude sur la traçabilité des bois exploités au Cameroun et des produits bois » exportés à partir du Cameroun [Study on the traceability of timber exploited in Cameroon and products “Wood” exported from Cameroon], Ministère des Forêts et de la Faune du Cameroun-Rapport de Tecsult Interna-tional Lte é, Yaounde (2007)

  24. J.M. Sieliechi, P.S. Thue, Removal of paraquat from drinking water by activated carbon prepared from waste wood. Desalin. Water Treat. 55, 986–998 (2015)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. R.H. Hesas, A. Arami-Niya, W.M.A.W. Daud, J.N. Sahu, Comparison of oil palm shell-based activated carbons produced by microwave and conventional heating methods using zinc chloride activation. J. Anal. Appl. Pyrolysis 104, 176–184 (2013)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. X. Ge, X. Ma, Z. Wu, X. Xiao, Y. Yan, Modification of coal-based activated carbon with nitric acid using microwave radiation for adsorption of phenanthrene and naphthalene. Res. Chem. Intermed. 41, 7327–7347 (2015)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. C. Saucier, M.A. Adebayo, E.C. Lima, R. Cataluna, P.S. Thuea, L.D.T. Prola, M.J. Puchana-Rosero, F.M. Machado, F.A. Pavan, G.L. Dotto, Microwave-assisted activated carbon from cocoa shell as adsorbent for removal of sodium diclofenac and nimesulide from aqueous effluents. J. Hazard. Mater. 289, 18–27 (2015)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. C. Saucier, M.A. Adebayo, E.C. Lima, L.D.T. Prola, P.S. Thue, C.S. Umpierres, M.J. Puchana-Rosero, F.M. Machado, Comparison of a homemade Bacury shell activated carbon with MWCNT for the removal of Brilliant Blue FCF food dye from aqueous solutions. Clean: Air, Soil, Water 43, 1389–1400 (2015)

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. J.C.P. Vaghetti, M. Zat, K.R.S. Bentes, L.S. Ferreira, E.V. Benvenutti, E.C. Lima, 4-Phenylenediaminepropylsilica xerogel as a sorbent for copper determination in waters by slurry-sampling ETAAS. J. Anal. At. Spectrom. 18, 376–380 (2003)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. L.D.T. Prola, E. Acayanka, E.C. Lima, C.S. Umpierres, J.C.P. Vaghetti, W.O. Santos, S. Laminsi, P.T. Njifon, Comparison of Jatropha curcas shells in natural form and treated by non-thermal plasma as biosorbents for removal of reactive red 120 textile dye from aqueous solution. Ind. Crop. Prod. 46, 328–340 (2013)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. S.L. Goertzen, K. Theriault, A.M. Oickle, A.C. Tarasuk, H.A. Andreas, Standardization of the Boehm titration: Part I—CO2 expulsion and endpoint determination. Carbon 48, 1252–1261 (2010)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. E.C. Lima, R.V. Barbosa, J.L. Brasil, A.H.D.P. Santos, Evaluation of different permanent modifiers for the determination of arsenic, cadmium and lead in environmental samples by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry. J. Anal. At. Spectrom. 17, 1523–1529 (2002)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. E.C. Lima, F. Barbosa Jr., F.J. Krug, U. Guaita, Tungsten–rhodium permanent chemical modifier for lead determination in digests of biological materials and sediments by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry. J. Anal. At. Spectrom. 14, 1601–1605 (1999)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. E.C. Lima, F.J. Krug, J.A. Nóbrega, A.R.A. Nogueira, Determination of ytterbium in animal faeces by tungsten coil electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry. Talanta 47, 613–623 (1998)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. E.C. Lima, P.G. Fenga, J.R. Romero, W.F. de Giovani, Electrochemical behaviour of [Ru(4,4′-Me2bpy)2(PPh3)(H2O)](ClO4)2 in homogeneous solution and incorporated into carbon paste electrodes: application to oxidation of benzylic compounds. Polyhedron 17, 313–318 (1998)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. W.S. Alencar, E.C. Lima, B. Royer, B.D. dos Santos, T. Calvete, E.A. da Silva, C.N. Alves, Application of aqai stalks as biosorbents for the removal of the dye Procion Blue MX-R from aqueous solution. Sep. Sci. Technol. 47, 513–526 (2012)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. E.C. Lima, M.A. Adebayo, F.M. Machado, Chapter 3-kinetic and equilibrium models of adsorption, in Carbon nanomaterials as adsorbents for environmental and biological applications, ed. by C.P. Bergmann, F.M. Machado (Springer, Berlin, 2015), pp. 33–69

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  38. K.S.W. Sing, D.H. Everett, R.A.W. Haul, L. Moscou, R.A. Pierotti, J. Rouquerol, T. Siemieniewska, Reporting physisorption data for gas/solid systems with special reference to the determination of surface area and porosity (recommendations 1984). Pure Appl. Chem. 57, 603–619 (1985)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  39. O. Pezoti Jr., A.L. Cazetta, I.P.A.F. Souza, K.C. Bedin, A.C. Martins, T.L. Silva, V.C. Almeida, Adsorption studies of methylene blue onto ZnCl2-activated carbon produced from buriti shells (Mauritia flexuosa L.). J. Ind. Eng. Chem. 20, 4401–4407 (2014)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  40. R.G. Pereira, C.M. Veloso, N.M. da Silva, L.F. de Sousa, R.C.F. Bonomo, A.O. de Souza, M.O.G. Souza, R.C.I. Fontan, Preparation of activated carbons from cocoa shells and siriguela seeds using H3PO4 and ZnCl2 as activating agents for BSA and α-lactalbumin adsorption. Fuel Proc. Technol. 126, 476–486 (2014)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  41. O. Pezoti Jr., A.L. Cazetta, R.C. Gomes, E.O. Barizão, I.P.A.F. Souza, A.C. Martins, T. Asefa, V.C. Almeida, Synthesis of ZnCl2-activated carbon from macadamia nut endocarp (Macadamia integrifolia) by microwave-assisted pyrolysis: optimization using RSM and methylene blue adsorption. J. Anal. Appl. Pyrol. 105, 166–176 (2014)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  42. T.-H. Liou, Development of mesoporous structure and high adsorption capacity of biomass-based activated carbon by phosphoric acid and zinc chloride activation. Chem. Eng. J. 158, 129–142 (2010)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  43. Z. Hu, M.P. Srinivasan, Mesoporous high surface area activated carbon. Micropor. Mesopor. Mater. 43, 267–275 (2001)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  44. A.C. Lua, T. Yang, Characteristics of activated carbon prepared from pistachionut shell by zinc chloride activation under nitrogen and vacuum conditions. J. Colloid Interface Sci. 290, 505–513 (2005)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  45. Z. Hu, M.P. Srinivasan, Y. Ni, Novel activation process for preparing highly microporous and mesoporous activated carbons. Carbon 39, 877–886 (2001)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  46. V. Gomez-Serrano, E.M. Cuerda-Correa, M.C. Fernandez-Gonzales, M.F. Alexandre-Franco, A. Macıas-Garcıa, Preparation of activated carbons from chestnut wood by phosphoric acid-chemical activation: study of microporosity and fractal dimension. Mater. Lett. 59, 846–853 (2005)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  47. T. Calvete, E.C. Lima, N.F. Cardoso, S.L.P. Dias, E.S. Ribeiro, Removal of brilliant green dye from aqueous solutions using home-made activated carbons. Clean: Air, Soil, Water 38, 521–532 (2010)

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  48. G.S. dos Reis, C.H. Sampaio, E.C. Lima, M. Wilhelm, Preparation of novel adsorbents based on combinations of polysiloxanes and sewage sludge to remove pharmaceuticals from aqueous solutions. Colloids Surf. A 497, 304–315 (2016)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  49. M. Wilhelm, C. Soltmann, D. Koch, G. Grathwohl, Ceramers: functional materials for adsorption techniques. J. Eur. Ceram. Soc. 25, 271–276 (2005)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  50. T. Prenzel, M. Wilhelm, K. Rezwan, Tailoring amine functionalized hybrid ceramics to control CO2 adsorption. Chem. Eng. J. 235, 198–206 (2014)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  51. M.J. Puchana-Rosero, M.A. Adebayo, E.C. Lima, F.M. Machado, P.S. Thue, J.C.P. Vaghetti, C.S. Umpierres, M. Gutterres, Microwave-assisted activated carbon obtained from the sludge of tannery-treatment effluent plant for removal of leather dyes. Colloids Surf. A 504, 105–115 (2016)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  52. F.M. Machado, C.P. Bergmann, E.C. Lima, B. Royer, F.E. de Souza, I.M. Jauris, T. Calvete, S.B. Fagan, Adsorption of reactive blue 4 dye from water solutions by carbon nanotubes: experiment and theory. Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. 14, 11139–11153 (2012)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  53. N.F. Cardoso, E.C. Lima, B. Royer, M.V. Bach, G.L. Dotto, L.A.A. Pinto, T. Calvete, Comparison of Spirulina platensis microalgae and commercial activated carbon as adsorbents for the removal of reactive red 120 dye from aqueous effluents. J. Hazard. Mater. 241–242, 146–153 (2012)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  54. G.L. Dotto, E.C. Lima, L.A.A. Pinto, Biosorption of food dyes onto Spirulina platensis nanoparticles: equilibrium isotherm and thermodynamic analysis. Bioresour. Technol. 103, 123–130 (2012)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  55. A. Dabrowski, Adsorption: from theory to practice. Adv. Colloid Interface Sci. 93, 135–224 (2001)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  56. O. Hamdaoui, E. Naffrechoux, L. Petrier, C. Tifouti, Effects of ultrasound on adsorption–desorption of p-chlorophenol on granular activated carbon. Ultrason. Sonochem. 10, 109–114 (2003)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  57. H.-M. Shen, G.-Y. Zhu, W.-B. Yu, H.-K. Wu, H.-B. Ji, H.-X. Shi, Y.-B. She, Y.-F. Zheng, Fast adsorption of p-nitrophenol from aqueous solution using cyclodextrin grafted silica gel. Appl. Surf. Sci. 356, 1155–1167 (2015)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  58. S. Suresh, V.C. Srivastava, I.M. Mishra, Study of catechol and resorcinol adsorption mechanism through granular activated carbon: characterization, pH and kinetic study. Sep. Sci. Technol. 46, 1750–1766 (2011)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  59. Z. Rawajfih, N. Nsour, Sorption of phenol and 4-chlorophenol onto pumice treated with cationic surfactant. J. Colloid Interface Sci. 298, 39–49 (2006)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  60. Q.-S. Liu, T. Zheng, P. Wang, J.-P. Jiang, N. Li, Adsorption isotherm, kinetic and mechanism studies of some substituted phenols on activated carbon fibers. Chem. Eng. J. 157, 348–356 (2010)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq, Brazil) and The Academy of Sciences for Developing World (TWAS, Italy) for financial support and sponsorship. We also thank The Centre of Electron Microscopy (CME-UFRGS) for use of the SEM. We are once again grateful to Chemaxon for providing us with an academic research license for Marvin Sketch software version 16.6.6.0 (http://www.chemaxon.com) 2016, used for o-cresol physical–chemical properties.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Chemistry, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Av. Bento Gonçalves 9500, P.O. Box 15003, Porto Alegre, RS, 91501-970, Brazil

    Pascal S. Thue, Glaydson S. dos Reis, Eder C. Lima, Alfred G. N. Wamba & Silvio L. P. Dias

  2. Department of Applied Chemistry, University of Ngaoundere, P.O. Box 455, Ngaoundere, Cameroon

    Pascal S. Thue & Joseph M. Sieliechi

  3. Department of Metallurgy, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Av. Bento Gonçalves, 9500, Porto Alegre, Brazil

    Glaydson S. dos Reis

  4. Department of Chemical Engineering, Federal University of Santa Maria (UFSM), Santa Maria, RS, Brazil

    G. L. Dotto

  5. Department of Process Engineering, University of Ngaoundere, Ngaoundere, Cameroon

    Alfred G. N. Wamba

  6. Federal University of Pampa (UNIPAMPA), Bagé, RS, Brazil

    Flavio A. Pavan

Authors
  1. Pascal S. Thue
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Glaydson S. dos Reis
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Eder C. Lima
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Joseph M. Sieliechi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. G. L. Dotto
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Alfred G. N. Wamba
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Silvio L. P. Dias
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Flavio A. Pavan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Glaydson S. dos Reis.

Electronic supplementary material

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

Supplementary material 1 (PDF 538 kb)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Thue, P.S., dos Reis, G.S., Lima, E.C. et al. Activated carbon obtained from sapelli wood sawdust by microwave heating for o-cresol adsorption. Res Chem Intermed 43, 1063–1087 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11164-016-2683-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11164-016-2683-8

Keywords

Search

Navigation