Two Step Synthesis and Application of Porous Carbon for Removal of Copper (II) from Wastewater: Statistical Optimization and Equilibrium Isotherm Analysis
Shobana Sinniha,
Zaira Zaman Chowdhury,
Ahmad Ibn Ibrahimy,
Mostak Ahmed,
Mohd. Rafie Bin Johan,
Mayeen Uddin Khandaker,
Irfan Anjum Badaruddin,
Sarfaraz Kamangar,
Mohamed Hussien
Affiliations
Shobana Sinniha
Nanotechnology and Catalysis Research Center, University of Malaya, 50603 Malaysia
Zaira Zaman Chowdhury
Nanotechnology and Catalysis Research Center, University of Malaya, 50603 Malaysia
Ahmad Ibn Ibrahimy
Department of Economics, Faculty of Business and Economics, University of Malaya, 50603 Malaysia
Mostak Ahmed
Nanotechnology and Catalysis Research Center, University of Malaya, 50603 Malaysia
Mohd. Rafie Bin Johan
Nanotechnology and Catalysis Research Center, University of Malaya, 50603 Malaysia
Mayeen Uddin Khandaker
Applied Physics and Radiation Technologies Group CCDCU, School of Engineering and Technology, Sunway University, Bandar Sunway, 47500 Selangor, Malaysia; Faculty of Graduate Studies, Daffodil International University, Daffodil Smart City, Birulia, Savar Dhaka, 1216, Bangladesh
Irfan Anjum Badaruddin
Mechanical Engineering Department, College of Engineering, King Khalid University, Abha, 61421, Saudi Arabia
Sarfaraz Kamangar
Mechanical Engineering Department, College of Engineering, King Khalid University, Abha, 61421, Saudi Arabia
Mohamed Hussien
Department of Chemistry, King Khalid University, Abha, 61421, Saudi Arabia
In this study, activated carbon (ACs) adsorbent was synthesized using the lignocellulosic waste (LCB) seed from Adansonia digitata L. (BSP) using two steps of hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) followed by activation. The hydrothermally produced char of BSP was activated to produce porous activated carbon BSPAC, where K2CO3 was used as a chemical activating agent. Box Behnken Design was used to optimize the input variables of pyrolysis temperature (A1), residence time (B1), and ratio (C1) for the pyrolysis process. Removal percentage (β1), percentage carbon yield (β2), and fixed carbon (β3) percentage were chosen as output responses. The analysis of variance was utilized to generate appropriate mathematical models with subsequent statistical analysis. Physiochemical characterizations were carried out for the hydrothermally carbonized sample (BSPC) and the optimized activated sample (BSPAC). Langmuir, Freundlich, and Temkin models were employed to estimate the isotherm model parameters. The results demonstrated that HTC with subsequent mild activation using K2CO3 can be considered as a greener route to obtain better-quality porous carbon having surface area of 599 m2/gm for removal of Cu(II) cations from wastewater.