Optimization Study for Desorption of Arsenic and Regeneration Performance on Magnetic Carbon Xerogels for Environmental Sustainability

Abstract

Magnetic carbon xerogels were synthesized via direct sonication to load magnetite nanoparticles in sol–gel polycondensation onto resorcinol-formaldehyde gels. The resulting organic gels were carbonized and subjected to surface modification using H2O2 and characterized using scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The desorption capacity was optimized using response surface methodology, with the adsorbent dose identified as the most significant quantitative factor. The kinetic adsorption was well described using the Elovich and Power equations. The regeneration capacity was evaluated over four sequential adsorption–desorption cycles, demonstrating the possibility of reusing the adsorbent and reducing the environmental impact.

Keywords

• adsorption–desorption
• arsenic
• kinetic model
• response surface methodology