Comparison of a Homemade Bacuri Shell Activated Carbon With Carbon Nanotubes for Food Dye Removal

E-ISSN： 1863-0669|43|10|1389-1400

ISSN： 1863-0650

Source： CLEAN - SOIL, AIR, WATER (ELECTRONIC), Vol.43, Iss.10, 2015-10, pp. : 1389-1400

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Abstract

The shell of bacuri together with inorganic components [red mud + lime + KOH + KAl(SO4)2 + Al(OH)3] at different ratios of 1.0 (BC‐1.0), 1.5 (BC‐1.5), and 2.0 (BC‐2.0) were pyrolized at 1073 K. To complete the chemical activation process, the inorganic components were leached from the carbonaceous matrix through acidification with 6 M HCl under reflux to obtain ABC‐1.0, ABC‐1.5 and ABC‐2.0. ABC‐1.5 showed the highest adsorption capacity among these adsorbents. Fourier transform IR spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, N2 adsorption/desorption curves and X‐ray diffraction were used to characterize BC‐1.5 (precursor) and ABC‐1.5 (activated carbon). The analyses indicate that the majority of the inorganic compounds were leached from the carbonaceous matrix, resulting in an activated carbon with a high surface area and pore volume, suitable for dye adsorption. The sorption capacity of ABC‐1.5 was compared with multi‐walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) for removal of Brilliant Blue food dye (BB‐FCF) from aqueous solutions. The general order kinetic model described well the adsorption process. The maximum amounts of BB‐FCF removed at 323 K were 647.9 and 231.5 mg g−1 for ABC‐1.5 and MWCNT, respectively. In addition, ABC‐1.5 and MWCNT were applied for the treatment of two simulated effluents.