Optimization of activated carbon preparation conditions fromProsopis africanaseed hulls for the removal of 2,4,6-Trichlorophenol from aqueous solution

Abstract

AbstractOptimum conditions for activated carbon preparation from Prosopis africana seed hulls (PASH) were investigated for the removal of 2,4,6-Trichlorophenol (2,4,6-TCP) by employing central composite design (CCD) to study the effects of three preparation variables which were activation temperature, activation time, and impregnation ratio (IR) on 2,4,6-TCP percentage removal and PASH-derived activated carbon yield (PASH-AC yield). Based on the CCD, a quadratic model and a two-factor interaction model were developed for 2,4,6-TCP removal and PASH-AC yield, respectively. The optimum conditions for preparing activated carbon from PASH for the removal of 2,4,6-TCP were found as follows: activation temperature of 800°C, activation time of 58 min, and IR of 2.70, which resulted into 93.64% of 2,4,6-TCP removal and 22.13% of PASH-AC yield. The experimental results obtained agreed satisfactorily with the model predictions. The optimum activated carbon was mesoporous with BET surface area, micropore volume, tota...