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a b s t r a c tThis paper reports the p-nitrophenol (PNP) removal from aqueous solutions by adsorption onto active carbons (ACs). Nine ACs were prepared from acid-precipitated eucalyptus kraft lignin following a twostep process consisting in CO 2 partial gasification (750-850• C) after carbonization (350-800 • C) in N 2 atmosphere. The amount adsorbed ranged from 1 to 4.4 mmol/g, and it is related to the initial concentration of adsorbate, temperature, pH, burn off of the activated carbons, and contact time. The equilibrium results were fitted by the Temkin, Dubinin-Radushkevich, and Guggenheim-Anderson-de Boer equations. The main thermodynamic magnitudes were estimated as well, and their values indicated that the adsorption processes were spontaneous and exothermic. The kinetic study showed that the processes are of apparent second order related to the concentrations of the empty active sites on the ACs surface. The values of the effective diffusivities have been calculated and they have suggested that the internal diffusion controls the net mass transfer. The results obtained in the present work can be for the benefit of the preparation of new adsorbents, as well as the primary design of the adsorption equipment with separation or environmental purposes.

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The adsorption processes of three aromatic chemicals onto activated carbons (ACs) from aqueous solutions have been studied. Eucalyptus kraft lignin obtained from cellulose industry as a residual biomass has been used to prepare activated carbons by physical activation with CO 2 . The influences of the activation time on the surface areas and pore volumes of the ACs were analyzed. The physicochemical properties and the surface chemical structure of the adsorbents have been studied by means of N 2 and CO 2 adsorption, ultimate analysis, XPS, TPD and SEM. XPS and TPD spectra of the ACs have suggested the presence of aromatic rings and carbon-oxygen functional groups in the solid surfaces. The potential use of the ACs for the removal of acetaminophen (paracetamol), salicylic acid and benzoic acid has been investigated at different pH, temperature and contact time. The adsorption equilibrium data have been correlated to Langmuir isotherm model. The thermodynamic study has been developed, the values of H , G, and S have been calculated and they indicated that the processes are endothermic for acetaminophen and exothermic for salicylic and benzoic acids. The analysis of the kinetic experiments showed that the effective diffusivities are low; 10 −12 to 10 −11 cm 2 /s, and they are the corresponding to intraparticle mass transfer, which appears as the controlling step for the net adsorption processes.