Xylene removal from dilute solution by palm kernel activated charcoal: Kinetics and equilibrium analysis

Sharififard, Hakimeh; Lashanizadegan, Asghar; Pazira, Rahman; Darvishi, Parviz

doi:10.22104/aet.2018.2989.1145

Xylene removal from dilute solution by palm kernel activated charcoal: Kinetics and equilibrium analysis

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

¹ Department of Chemical Engineering, Yasouj University, Yasouj 75918-74831, Iran

² Chemical engineering department, yasouj university, yasouj

³ Chemical Engineering department, Yasouj university, yasouj, iran

⁴ Chemical Engineering Department, Yasouj university, Yasouj, Iran

10.22104/aet.2018.2989.1145

Abstract

Xylene is an aromatic hydrocarbon that is a highly toxic compound. Therefore, it is essential to remove this component from wastewater before discharging it to the environment. In this research work, palm kernel biomass was activated chemically by H3PO4 and synthesized activated charcoal was applied to separate xylene from aqueous media. The prepared activated charcoal was characterized using FTIR, BET, SEM, pHzpc measurement, Boehm analysis methods. The characterization tests indicated that the produced activated carbon has acidic character with various functional groups and micropores structure. The values of external mass transfer coefficients ranged from 1.87×10-5 to 1.90×10-5. By increasing the temperature, the pore and surface diffusion coefficients were increased from 1.15×10-9 to 1.91×10-9 and 6.98×10-16 to 7.58×10-16, respectively. Sensitivity analysis indicated which the pore diffusion and film diffusion are the main mass transfer parameters. Equilibrium analysis also revealed that the multilayer model with saturation could well describe the data. The number of adsorbate ions for one site, the number of adsorption layers, density of receptor site, and the energy of adsorption at layers were determined using statistical physics modelling. The maximum capacity of prepared activated charcoal at the experimental condition for xylene adsorption was 23.48 mg g-1.

Keywords

Main Subjects

Adsorption

References

[1] Aivalioti, M., Pothoulaki, D., Papoulias, P., Gidarakos, E. (2012). Removal of BTEX, MTBE and TAME from aqueous solutions by adsorption onto raw and thermally treated lignite. Journal of hazardous materials, 207, 136-146.

[2] World Health Organization. (2004). Guidelines for drinking-water quality: recommendations (Vol. 1). World Health Organization.

[3] Saha, D., Mirando, N., Levchenko, A. (2018). Liquid and vapor phase adsorption of BTX in lignin derived activated carbon: Equilibrium and kinetics study. Journal of cleaner production, 182, 372-378.

[4] Sangkhun, W., Laokiat, L., Tanboonchuy, V., Khamdahsag, P., Grisdanurak, N. (2012). Photocatalytic degradation of BTEX using W-doped TiO2 immobilized on fiberglass cloth under visible light. Superlattices and microstructures, 52(4), 632-642.

[5] Mazzeo, D. E. C., Levy, C. E., de Angelis, D. D. F., Marin-Morales, M. A. (2010). BTEX biodegradation by bacteria from effluents of petroleum refinery. Science of the total environment, 408(20), 4334-4340.

[6] Mathur, A. K., Balomajumder, C. (2013). Biological treatment and modeling aspect of BTEX abatement process in a biofilter. Bioresource technology, 142, 9-17

[7] Chovau, S., Dobrak, A., Figoli, A., Galiano, F., Simone, S., Drioli, E., Van der Bruggen, B. (2010). Pervaporation performance of unfilled and filled PDMS membranes and novel SBS membranes for the removal of toluene from diluted aqueous solutions. Chemical engineering journal, 159(1-3), 37-46.

[8] Mehrabi, N., Soleimani, M., Yeganeh, M. M., Sharififard, H. (2015). Parameter optimization for nitrate removal from water using activated carbon and composite of activated carbon and Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles. RSC advances, 5(64), 51470-51482.

[9] Sharififard, H., Pepe, F., Soleimani, M., Aprea, P., Caputo, D. (2016). Iron-activated carbon nanocomposite: synthesis, characterization and application for lead removal from aqueous solution. RSC advances, 6(49), 42845-42853.

[10] Sharififard, H., Soleimani, M., Ashtiani, F. Z. (2014). Evaluation of chitosan flakes as adsorbent for palladium and platinum recovery from binary dilute solutions. International journal of global warming, 6(2-3), 303-314.

[11] Heydari, S., Sharififard, H., Nabavinia, M., Kiani, H., Parvizi, M. (2013). Adsorption of chromium ions from aqueous solution by carbon adsorbent. International journal of environmental, chemical, ecological, geological and geophysical engineering, 7(12), 649-652.

[12] Bansal, R. C., Goyal, M. (2005). Activated carbon adsorption. CRC press.

[13] Çeçen, F., Aktas, Ö. (2011). Activated carbon for water and wastewater treatment: Integration of adsorption and biological treatment. John Wiley and Sons.

[14] Bandosz, T. J. (2006). Activated carbon surfaces in environmental remediation (Vol. 7). Elsevier.

[15] Niazi, L., Lashanizadegan, A., Sharififard, H. (2018). Chestnut oak shells activated carbon: Preparation, characterization and application for Cr (VI) removal from dilute aqueous solutions. Journal of cleaner production, 185, 554-561.

[16] Shahraki, Z. H., Sharififard, H., Lashanizadegan, A. Grape stalks biomass as raw material for activated carbon production: Synthesis, characterization and adsorption ability. Materials research express, 5(5), doi.org/10.1088/2053-1591/aac1cd.

[17] Demiral, H., Güngör, C. (2016). Adsorption of copper (II) from aqueous solutions on activated carbon prepared from grape bagasse. Journal of cleaner production, 124, 103-113.

[18] Al Bahri, M., Calvo, L., Gilarranz, M. A., Rodriguez, J. J. (2016). Diuron multilayer adsorption on activated carbon from CO2 activation of grape seeds. Chemical engineering communications, 203(1), 103-113.

[19] Altintig, E., Kirkil, S. (2016). Preparation and properties of Ag-coated activated carbon nanocomposites produced from wild chestnut shell by ZnCl₂ activation. Journal of the Taiwan institute of chemical engineers, 63, 180-188.

[20] Nowicki, P., Kazmierczak, J., Pietrzak, R. (2015). Comparison of physicochemical and sorption properties of activated carbons prepared by physical and chemical activation of cherry stones. Powder technology, 269, 312-319.

[21] Chen, Y., Zhai, S. R., Liu, N., Song, Y., An, Q. D., Song, X. W. (2013). Dye removal of activated carbons prepared from NaOH-pretreated rice husks by low-temperature solution-processed carbonization and H₃PO₄ activation. Bioresource technology, 144, 401-409.

[22] Lin, L., Zhai, S. R., Xiao, Z. Y., Song, Y., An, Q. D., Song, X. W. (2013). Dye adsorption of mesoporous activated carbons produced from NaOH-pretreated rice husks. Bioresource technology, 136, 437-443.

[23] American Society for Testing and Materials. (1991). Standard Test Methods for Moisture in Activated Charcoal, ASTM Committee on Standards, Philadelphia.

[24] American Society for Testing and Materials. (2000). Designation D4607-94, ASTM Committee on Standards, Philadelphia.

[25] Kaghazchi, T., Kolur, N. A., Soleimani, M. (2010). Licorice residue and Pistachio-nut shell mixture: A promising precursor for activated carbon. Journal of industrial and engineering chemistry, 16(3), 368-374.

[26] Laksaci, H., Khelifi, A., Trari, M., Addoun, A. (2017). Synthesis and characterization of microporous activated carbon from coffee grounds using potassium hydroxides. Journal of cleaner production, 147, 254-262.

[27] Sharififard, H., Soleimani, M., Zokaee Ashtiani, F. (2016). Application of nanoscale iron oxide-hydroxide-impregnated activated carbon (Fe-AC) as an adsorbent for vanadium recovery from aqueous solutions. Desalination and water treatment, 57(33), 15714-15723.

[28] Badruzzaman, M., Westerhoff, P., Knappe, D. R. (2004). Intraparticle diffusion and adsorption of arsenate onto granular ferric hydroxide (GFH). Water research, 38(18), 4002-4012.

[29] Sharififard, H., Soleimani, M. (2017). Modeling and experimental study of vanadium adsorption by iron-nanoparticle-impregnated activated carbon.Research on chemical intermediates, 43(4), 2501-2516.

[30] Sellaoui, L., Guedidi, H., Knani, S., Reinert, L., Duclaux, L., Lamine, A. B. (2015). Application of statistical physics formalism to the modeling of adsorption isotherms of ibuprofen on activated carbon. Fluid phase equilibria, 387, 103-110

[31] Dotto, G. L., Pinto, L. A. A., Hachicha, M. A., Knani, S. (2015). New physicochemical interpretations for the adsorption of food dyes on chitosan films using statistical physics treatment. Food chemistry, 171, 1-7.

[32] Coquelet, C., Valtz, A., Richon, D. (2008). Solubility of ethylbenzene and xylene in pure water and aqueous alkanolamine solutions. The journal of chemical thermodynamics, 40(6), 942-948.

[33] Sellaoui, L., Mechi, N., Lima, É. C., Dotto, G. L., Lamine, A. B. (2017). Adsorption of diclofenac and nimesulide on activated carbon: statistical physics modeling and effect of adsorbate size. Journal of physics and chemistry of solids, 109, 117-123.

[34] Nunell, G. V., Fernández, M. E., Bonelli, P. R., Cukierman, A. L. (2012). Conversion of biomass from an invasive species into activated carbons for removal of nitrate from wastewater. Biomass and bioenergy, 44, 87-95.

[35] da Silva Lacerda, V., López-Sotelo, J. B., Correa-Guimarães, A., Hernández-Navarro, S., Sánchez-Báscones, M., Navas-Gracia, L. M., Martín-Gil, J. (2015). Rhodamine B removal with activated carbons obtained from lignocellulosic waste. Journal of environmental management, 155, 67-76

[36] Lim, W. C., Srinivasakannan, C., Balasubramanian, N. (2010). Activation of palm shells by phosphoric acid impregnation for high yielding activated carbon. Journal of analytical and applied pyrolysis, 88(2), 181-186.

[37] Knani, S., Aouaini, F., Bahloul, N., Khalfaoui, M., Hachicha, M. A., Lamine, A. B., Kechaou, N. (2014). Modeling of adsorption isotherms of water vapor on Tunisian olive leaves using statistical mechanical formulation. Physica A: Statistical mechanics and its applications, 400, 57-70.

[38] Khalfaoui, M., Baouab, M. H. V., Gauthier, R., Lamine, A. B. (2006). Acid dye adsorption onto cationized polyamide fibres. Modeling and consequent interpretations of model parameter behaviours. Journal of colloid and interface science, 296(2), 419-427.