Simultaneous activation of Ficus carica L. leaves for the removal of emerging pollutants from aqueous solutions
Zohra Mekibes, Benaouda Bestanı, Nadia Douara, N. Benderdouche, Mokhtar Benzekri Benallou
Abstract
ABSTRACT Ficus carica L. leaves, endemic in the Mediterranean region, are chosen as a lignocellulosic source of raw material for the preparation of activated carbon by simultaneous activation by impregnating the raw material in 85% H 3 PO 4 for 3 h at 100°C and then pyrolyzing the slurry at 600°C. The prepared activated carbon was used for the removal of two emerging pollutants paracetamol and amoxicillin. N 2 /77 K adsorption experiments on the prepared activated carbon resulted in a Brunauer–Emmett– Teller specific surface area of 658 m 2 /g. Fourier-transform infrared analysis, Boehm titration, and pH zpc determination were performed to characterize surface functional groups and the acidic nature of the prepared material. The effect of several parameters including adsorbent dose, solution pH was evaluated. Adsorption isotherms were better described by the Langmuir model than those of Freundlich and Temkin. The maximum adsorption capacities achieved for paracetamol and amoxicillin were 53.28 and 44.67 mg/g, respectively. Kinetics was found to obey the pseudo- second-order model. This study shows that activated Ficuscarica L. can be successfully used as a new adsorbent for the treatment of water laden with such as contaminants.