Abstract
In the presented paper, activated carbons were prepared from fructose and glucose, and activating agents (KOH, NaOH, LiOH) by hydrothermal treatment (HTC) treatment. After preparation, samples were characterized in details. Different techniques were used: x-ray powder diffraction analysis, Raman spectral analysis, elemental analysis, and determination of textural and morphological properties. Obtained results showed dependence of investigated properties and the nature of precursors (glucose or fructose) as well as the type of hydroxides used as activating agents. After characterization, samples were tested as materials for heavy metals (Pb2+, Cd2+ and Zn2+) and methylene blue removal. Also, adsorption experiments were performed on wastewaters taken from tailings of the lead and zinc mine and kinetic of the methylene blue removal was studied. The factors which distinguished the KOH activated samples were high yield (~14%), content of organic carbon (63–74%), porosity and specific surface area (SBET ~700–1360 m2/g), a low degree of the crystal phase, indications that potassium ions may be included in heavy metals removal, good removal of the heavy metal ions (~47–59 mg/g for Pb2+, ~21–27 mg/g for Cd2+ and ~6–10 mg/g for Zn2+) and fast (~10–30 min) and good methylene blue (~60–200 mg/g) removal.
Highlights
The increasing human need for new products and technologies has led to intensive development of industry
That means that in the first stage of obtaining samples for this study, during the preparation of a 1 mol/dm3 solution of glucose or fructose, their crystalline structures were destroyed. It is known from the literature [47,48] that because of HTC treatment, an amorphous network with a high content of carbon is obtained with increased surface functional properties so it may be said that HTC-obtained carbon containing materials from glucose and fructose do not possess crystal structures
Ion exchange is one of and results of characterization gave an indication that potassium ions may be inserted in the the most common mechanisms involved heavy different results structure of the activated carbons andinfrom thatmetals point removal potential on available for adsorbents, ion exchangeand with of characterization gave an indication that potassium ions may be inserted in the structure of the heavy metal ions from surrounding aqueous solution
Summary
The increasing human need for new products and technologies has led to intensive development of industry. Industrial development is usually followed by high levels of potentially hazardous materials which may have negative influence on the environment as well as human or animal health. In countries with a good economy, strict rules and laws have caused high control of the level of waste materials being released into the environment, and due to applying adequate techniques for waste purification, the influence of industry on the environment is usually very small or negligible. In developing countries, control and human consciousness are significantly weaker, which often leads to higher quantities of waste materials being released into the environment and a significant increase of ecological problems as a consequence. Heavy metals are one of the most dangerous pollutants in the nature They are especially toxic for living organisms because of their stability and tendency of accumulation in the environment [1]
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