Synthesis of an Activated Carbon Based on Cardoon Waste and its Comparison to a Commercial Carbon in Terms of Physicochemical Characterization and Organic Dye Adsorption Performance

Abstract

The present study aims to evaluate the possibility of using low-cost adsorbents based on Cardoon waste for the depollution of industrial effluents. After characterization of the raw cardoon waste [1], the carbonization was carried out at 350 °C in a muffle furnace. In order to show the performance of the method used to prepare this activated carbon (PC), a comparative study with a commercial carbon (CC) is performed. The obtained activated carbon and the commercial carbon were characterized by thermogravimetric analysis, scanning electron microscopy coupled with EDX, X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared absorption spectroscopy and inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy. Approximate analyses of moisture content, volatile matter content, ash content and fixed carbon content, acid-base surface functions, pH at zero charge and iodine value were performed. The obtained results indicate that the main characteristics of the activated carbon prepared at 350 °C are practically similar to those of the commercial carbon; a homogeneous porous surface, an interesting percentage of carbon, a high thermal stability and a disorganized graphitic crystalline structure, the iodine adsorption values on the two carbons are 409.887 mg/g for PC and 430.191 mg/g for CC. The adsorption of methylene blue (MB) on both carbons was performed. The kinetics and isotherms of MB adsorption on the two carbons were evaluated. According to the obtained results, the use of the prepared carbon in effluent treatment can be put into perspective.