Production of activated carbon from petroleum coke and its application in water treatment for the removal of metals and phenol

• Published in: Water Science & Technology Vol. 42; no. 5-6; pp. 119 - 126
• Main Authors: RAMIREZ ZAMORA, R. M, SCHOUWENAARS, R, DURAN MORENO, A, BUITRON, G
• Format: Conference Proceeding Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Pergamon Press 01.01.2000; IWA Publishing
• Subjects: Activated carbon; Adsorbents; Applied sciences; Chemistry; Coke; Exact sciences and technology; General and physical chemistry; Heavy metals; Industrial wastewaters; Mercury; Mercury (metal); Mexico; Petroleum coke; Phenols; Pollution; Refineries; Scanning electron microscopy; Silver; Surface physical chemistry; Wastewater treatment; Wastewaters; Water treatment; Water treatment and pollution; Phenol; Adsorption; Industrial waste water; Activated carbon; Petroleum coke; Preparation; Waste reuse; Physicochemical purification; Waste water purification; Organic compounds; Heavy metal
• ISBN: 9781900222549; 190022254X
• ISSN: 0273-1223; 1996-9732
• DOI: 10.2166/wst.2000.0505

The feasibility of the reuse of petroleum coke, withof high sulphur content, produced as waste in a Mexican petroleum refinery, its properties for use in water treatment was were assessed. Several classical activation methods were used and the physicochemical characteristics of the treated material were measured using normal ASTM standards. Use of scanning electron microscopy and microprobe analysis permitted most of the effects of the activation processes on the structure and properties of the coke. Adsorption capacities of mercury and silver and physicochemical characteristics determined for these activated carbons as well as scanning electron microscopy show that the H3PO4 is the best activating agent. It is shown that the process is highly promising for the production of an activated carbon aimed at the removal of heavy metals from wastewater.