Preparation and characterization of new adsorbent from Cinnamon waste by physical activation for removal of Chlorpyrifos

Abstract

In this study, Cinnamon sticks, a low-cost farming by-product abundant in Egypt, were tested as a precursor for the production of porous carbons with high surface area and large pore volume using a two-step preparation method carbonization followed by physical activation in the presence of carbon dioxide. The influences of the pyrolysis temperature and activation hold-up time on the porosity of the activated carbon were studied. The BET surface area and the total pore volume of the prepared carbon were utilized as the criteria for selecting the optimum preparation parameters. The optimum temperature for pyrolysis was found to be at a temperature of 900 °C, hold-up time of two-hour, a nitrogen flow rate of 150 cm3/min, and a heating rate of 10 °C/min. However, the optimum activation conditions were at a temperature of 900 °C, a CO2 flow rate of 150 cm3/min, a heating rate of 20 °C/min. and hold-up time of 120 min. Steadiness data were tailored to Langmuir, Freundlich, and Temkin isotherms, and the equilibrium data were best described by the Langmuir isotherm model, with a maximum monolayer adsorption capacity of 12.37 mg/g at 25 °C. The extreme monolayer adsorption capacity declined with rising temperature confirming the exothermic character of the adsorption interaction.

Keywords

• Cinnamon sticks
• Activated carbon
• Physical activation
• Surface area
• Adsorption
• Chlorpyrifos