Abstract
The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the adsorption and photocatalytic activity of activated carbon-based photocatalysts. Titanium dioxide (TiO2) and zinc oxide (ZnO) were chosen as semiconductors to prepare composites with activated carbon by the wet impregnation method. Activated carbon was prepared using as starting material onion leaves (Allium fistulosum) and as activating agent phosphoric acid (H3PO4). Photooxidation and batch adsorption of phenol was studied to compare the efficiency of the materials prepared. The results showed that the composite AC–TiO2 has a greater photocatalytic activity and a better adsorption capacity compared to AC–ZnO composite.
Highlights
IntroductionA very common and important vegetable in Colombian diet and cuisine is onion (Allium fistulosum)
Colombia is a country characterized by its extensive agricultural activity
Characterization studies confirmed that AC presents mesoporosity that is lost with the incorporation of metal oxides
Summary
A very common and important vegetable in Colombian diet and cuisine is onion (Allium fistulosum). It is known as “cebolla junca” or “cebolla larga”, and it is principally produced in the Department of Boyacá. According to the National Administrative Department of Statistics (DANE), in 2014 more than 200 thousand tons were produced in Boyacá, which means around 70% of the total production in Colombia during that year [1]. The leaves and roots are discarded, generating big amounts of waste, since they represent 25–30% of the weight of the plant. That means that these residues have a waste-to-product potential that must be exploited. One way to take advantage of that potential is to use it as a precursor of carbonaceous materials such as activated carbon
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