Adsorption of naproxen pharmaceutical micropollutant from aqueous solutions on superior activated carbon synthesized from sheep manure: Kinetics, thermodynamics, and mechanism

Abstract

The performance of a new method for synthesizing super activated carbon derived from sheep manure in the adsorption of naproxen micropollutant from an aqueous solution was investigated in this research. Chemical activation employing ZnCl2 as an activator was used to produce activated carbon. The effects of several parameters such as the rate of impregnation, temperature of activation, and duration of activation on the synthesis of activated carbon were examined. FTIR, SEM, and BET measurements were used to characterize the produced activated carbons. The surface area of the manufactured activated carbon was determined to be 2170 m2 g−1. On naproxen adsorption, the effects of solution initial pH, solution initial concentration, and amount of activated carbon were examined. When the pH of the solution was 4, the adsorption capacity was found to be greater. The pseudo-second order kinetic model was found to fit the adsorption kinetics. The data on adsorption equilibrium was found to be consistent with the Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm. According to Langmuir isotherm adsorbent capacity qm was found 7790 mg g−1. ΔG0, ΔS0, and ΔH0, among other thermodynamic parameters, were estimated. The thermodynamics of the naproxen–Activated Carbon combination show that the reaction is endothermic and favourable. This high surface area and adsorption capacity showed that the material is innovatively important.