Kinetics and Equilibrium Studies of the Detoxification of Aqueous Solutions of Phenolic Derivatives using Activated Carbon
Year: 2024
Type: article
Abstract: This study investigates the kinetics and equilibrium of phenolic derivative detoxification from aqueous solutions using activated carbon derived from coconut husk (CHAC). Phenolic compounds, prevalent in industrial wastewater, are highly toxic to humans and aquatic life. The removal efficiency of 4-Nitrophenol (PNP) and 4-Chlorophenol (PCP) was examined using batch adsorption experiments under varying conditions including adsorbent dose, contact time, initial concentration, and temperature. Coconut husk was chemically activated and characterized for its adsorption properties. The optimal adsorbent dose for PNP removal was determined to be 0.2 g, achieving a maximum adsorption capacity of 64.65 mg/g after 120 minutes. Adsorption data were fitted to pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-order kinetic models to understand the adsorption mechanism. The results indicated that the adsorption of PNP onto CHAC followed the pseudo-second-order kinetic model, suggesting chemisorption as the dominant process. The findings demonstrate that activated carbon from coconut husk can be an effective and sustainable adsorbent for removing phenolic derivatives from wastewater, offering a potential solution for environmental detoxification. Further studies on isotherm models and thermodynamics are recommended to optimize the adsorption process for large-scale applications.
Institutions: University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee, University of Lagos
Language: English
Subfield: Water Science and Technology
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W4401459274