Toward new benchmark adsorbents: preparation and characterization of activated carbon from argan nut shell for bisphenol A removal.
Mohamed Zbair, Kaisu Ainassaari, Asmaa Drif, Satu Ojala, Michael Bottlinger, Minna Pirilä, Riitta L Keiski, Mohammed Bensitel, Rachid Brahmi
Author Information
Mohamed Zbair: Laboratory of Catalysis and Corrosion of Materials (LCCM), Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences of El Jadida, University of Chouaïb Doukkali, BP 20, 24000, El Jadida, Morocco. zbair.mohamed@gmail.com. ORCID
Kaisu Ainassaari: Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Technology, University of Oulu, P.O. Box 4300, 90014, Oulu, Finland.
Asmaa Drif: Laboratory of Catalysis and Corrosion of Materials (LCCM), Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences of El Jadida, University of Chouaïb Doukkali, BP 20, 24000, El Jadida, Morocco.
Satu Ojala: Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Technology, University of Oulu, P.O. Box 4300, 90014, Oulu, Finland.
Michael Bottlinger: Laboratory of Hydrothermal Carbonization Process, Umwelt-Campus Birkenfeld, Trier University of Applied Sciences, Trier, Germany.
Minna Pirilä: Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Technology, University of Oulu, P.O. Box 4300, 90014, Oulu, Finland.
Riitta L Keiski: Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Technology, University of Oulu, P.O. Box 4300, 90014, Oulu, Finland.
Mohammed Bensitel: Laboratory of Catalysis and Corrosion of Materials (LCCM), Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences of El Jadida, University of Chouaïb Doukkali, BP 20, 24000, El Jadida, Morocco.
Rachid Brahmi: Laboratory of Catalysis and Corrosion of Materials (LCCM), Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences of El Jadida, University of Chouaïb Doukkali, BP 20, 24000, El Jadida, Morocco. rbrahmi1997@gmail.com.
The use of argan nut shell as a precursor for producing activated carbon was investigated in this work. Two activated carbons AC-HP and AC-Na were prepared from argan nut shell by chemical activation method using phosphoric acid (HPO) and sodium hydroxide (NaOH), respectively. Textural, morphological, and surface chemistry characteristics were studied by nitrogen physisorption, TGA, SEM, TXRF, FTIR, XRD, and by determining the pH of the AC-HP. The adsorption experiments revealed that AC-HP was more efficient in adsorption of BPA due to high specific surface area (1372 m/g) compared to AC-Na (798 m/g). The obtained adsorption data of BPA on AC-HP correlated well with the pseudo-second-order model and the Langmuir isotherm (Qmax = 1250 mg/g at 293 K). The thermodynamic parameters (ΔG° < 0, ΔH° < 0, and ΔS° < 0) indicate that adsorption of BPA on AC-HP was spontaneous and exothermic in nature. The regeneration of AC-HP showed excellent results after 5 cycles (95-93%). This work does not only provide a potential way to use argan nut shell but also represents a sustainable approach to synthesize AC-HP, which might be an ideal material for various applications (energy storage, catalysis, and environmental remediation).
