Optimized preparation of activated carbon from furfural residue using response surface methodology and its application for bisphenol S adsorption

Abstract

Furfural residue (FR), a solid waste, was applied as the precursor to prepare activated carbon by steam activation. The Box-Behnken design (BBD) approach-based response surface methodology (RSM) was utilized to optimize the preparation conditions to evaluate their effects on the performance of activated carbon from furfural residue (FRAC). The optimum preparation conditions of FRAC were found as follows: activation temperature of 922 °C, activation time of 62 min, and the mass ratio of char to H2O of 1:4.5, resulting in 1,501.84 mg/g of iodine adsorption capacity and 1,662.41 m2/g of specific surface area. The FRAC was characterized and then the adsorption performance of BPS on FRAC was investigated. Langmuir and Koble-Corrigan isotherm models were well fitted to the experimental data, and the adsorption kinetics process was perfectly described by the pseudo-second-order model. Thermodynamic parameters showed that the adsorption of BPS was a spontaneous exothermic process. Besides, the regeneration efficiency of FRAC was over 97% after five consecutive cycles. The maximum monolayer adsorption capacity of FRAC for BPS was 3.2848 mmol/g at 298 K, indicating that the FRAC was an excellent adsorbent for the removal of BPS from aqueous solutions.

Removal of Bisphenol S (BPS) by Adsorption on Activated Carbons Commercialized in Brazil

“…The results obtained in the present study are consistent with recent studies concerning BPS adsorption on activated carbons [ 23 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 ], as the experimental data adequately fit the Langmuir model. Nevertheless, this study obtained more satisfactory results the studies above.…”

“…In the third phase, the pores of the adsorbent reach saturation, establishing the adsorption equilibrium [ 44 ]. A behavior similar to that found herein was observed in studies which investigated BPS adsorption on activated carbons [ 23 , 36 , 37 , 38 ].…”

“…In recent studies involving BPS adsorption on activated carbons in ultrapure water matrices, the experimental data have appropriately fit the pseudo-second-order kinetic model as shown in Table 6 [ 23 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 ]. Nevertheless, none of the studies obtained better experimental data fits with the pseudo-first-order kinetic model.…”

“…Several studies have applied the intraparticle diffusion model to verify the limiting step in the kinetic adsorption process [ 23 , 36 , 37 , 38 ]. Solute adsorption in an aqueous medium involves adsorbate mass transfer (film diffusion), surface diffusion, and pore diffusion (intraparticle diffusion) [ 42 ].…”

“…Since this kinetic model assumes that chemisorption predominates in the process [33], the surface interactions between the adsorbate and adsorbent likely involve electron sharing or exchange. In recent studies involving BPS adsorption on activated carbons in ultrapure water matrices, the experimental data have appropriately fit the pseudo-second-order kinetic model as shown in Table 6 [23,[34][35][36][37][38][39][40][41]. Nevertheless, none of the studies obtained better experimental data fits with the pseudo-first-order kinetic model.…”