Affiliation:
1. Science and Technology Institute, Federal University of São Paulo, São José dos Campos 12231-280, SP, Brazil
2. Department of Chemistry and CESAM, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
Abstract
This work aimed at optimizing the preparation of activated carbon (AC) from Kraft lignin for the adsorption of methylene blue (MB) and amoxicillin (AMX) from water. A full factorial design of three factors (precursor:activating agent (H3PO4) ratio, pyrolysis temperature, and residence time) at two levels was used to optimize the AC production. Eight AC products were obtained and evaluated considering the following responses: product yield, specific surface area (SBET), energy consumption, and adsorptive removal of the contaminants under study. The produced AC presented satisfactory SBET, ranging between 750 and 1335 m2 g−1, and efficient adsorption of MB and AMX from water, achieving up to 99% removal under the studied experimental conditions (100 mg L−1 of MB and AMX solution and material dose of 1 g L−1). Statistical analysis showed that product yield and energy consumption for AC production were influenced by temperature and residence time. The determination of a desirability function indicated a precursor/H3PO4 ratio of 1:2, pyrolysis at 700 °C, and residence time of 60 min as the optimal production conditions. The optimized AC presented SBET 1335 m2 g−1 and maximum adsorption capacity of 210 and 280 mg g−1 for MB and AMX, respectively.
Funder
Brazilian Funding Institutions Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior—Brasil
CNPq
Divisão de Química/Instituto de Aeronáutica e Espaço, Fibria Celulose S.A. Co.
FCT/MCTES
Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia