Impact of H3PO4-activated carbon from pine fruit shells for paracetamol adsorption from aqueous solution
Imad Hamadneh, Rund Abu‐Zurayk, Aseel Aqel, Ahmed Al-Mobydeen, Lama Hamadneh, Yousef Al-Dalahmeh, Fayza Hannoon, Rula Albuqain, Shorouq Alsotari, Ammar H. Al‐Dujaili
Abstract
ABSTRACT The synthesis of activated carbon (AC) from pine fruit shells (PFS) biomass (BM) is described in this paper. AC was made from BM by gradual pyrolysis at 600°C. AC was also chemically activated with H 3 PO 4 (BC-H 3 PO 4 ) and pyrolyzed at 600°C. BM, BC, and BC-H 3 PO 4 adsorbents were characterized by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, thermal gravimetric analysis, and elemental analysis. The batch system was used to apply the BM, BC, and BC-H 3 PO 4 to the adsorption of paracetamol (PCM) from aqueous solution. Adsorption was evaluated in relation to adsorbent dosage, ionic strength, initial pH solution, contact time, and temperature. Based on their coefficient of determination (R 2 ), chi-square (χ 2 ) and error function (Ferror%) values, equilibrium and kinetic PCM adsorption data revealed that the process obeys the Langmuir, Dubinin–Radushkevich, and pseudo-second-order kinetic equations, respectively. According to the Langmuir model, the highest adsorption capacity for PCM by BM, BC, and BC-H 3 PO 4 was 99.010, 166.667, and 256.10 mg/g, respectively. Thermodynamic analysis revealed that PCM adsorption by the adsorbents is spontaneous and exothermic.