Syagrus oleracea–activated carbon prepared by vacuum pyrolysis for methylene blue adsorption

• Published in: Environmental science and pollution research international Vol. 26; no. 16; pp. 16470 - 16481
• Main Authors: dos Santos, Kleber Jean Leite, de Souza dos Santos, Grazielle Emanuella, de Sá, Ícaro Mychel Gomes Leite, de Carvalho, Sandra Helena Vieira, Soletti, João Inácio, Meili, Lucas, da Silva Duarte, José Leandro, Bispo, Mozart Daltro, Dotto, Guilherme Luiz
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01.06.2019; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Activated carbon; Adsorption; Aquatic Pollution; Aqueous solutions; Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution; Carbon; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecotoxicology; Environment; Environmental Chemistry; Environmental Health; Environmental science; Heterogeneity; Kinetics; Methylene blue; Particle size; Pyrolysis; Reaction kinetics; Research Article; Sulfuric acid; Syagrus; Vacuum; Waste Water Technology; Water Management; Water Pollution Control; Removal; Pyrolysis; Dyes; Biomass; Activated carbon
• ISSN: 0944-1344; 1614-7499
• DOI: 10.1007/s11356-019-05083-4

This work aims to produce activated carbon from the endocarp of Syagrus oleracea by vacuum pyrolysis and evaluate its potential as an adsorbent. The effects of pyrolysis temperature (400 °C, 500 °C, 600 °C, and 700 °C), particle diameter (0.467 mm, 0.267 mm, and lower than 0.234 mm), and activation agent (H 2 SO 4 , H 2 PO 3 , and KOH) on the potential for methylene blue adsorption were investigated. In addition, kinetics and adsorption equilibrium were evaluated. The best condition found was particle diameter < 0.234 mm, final pyrolysis temperature of 700 °C, and using KOH. Adsorption kinetics followed pseudo-second order, with equilibrium reached within 20 min. Isotherms followed the Freundlich model. Values of adsorption capacity were in the order of 30 mg/g. Thermodynamic parameters indicated that adsorption occurred spontaneously with a reduction in the heterogeneity of the solid interface/solution. The results obtained demonstrate the great adsorption capacity of the activated carbon prepared from endocarp of Syagrus oleracea via vacuum pyrolysis for the removal of up to 98% methylene blue from aqueous solutions.