Palm shell based activated carbon for removal of bisphenol A: an equilibrium, kinetic and thermodynamic study

Abstract

Bisphenol A (BPA), a known endocrine disruptor, is ubiquitous in the aquatic environment. In this article, the adsorption of BPA onto Palm Shell activated carbon (PAC), prepared from an agro waste-palm shell has been investigated. The kinetics and isothermal data could be correlated well to pseudo-second-order kinetic model and the Langmuir isotherm, respectively. The adsorption kinetics has been further found to be controlled by both intraparticle diffusion and film diffusion; with film diffusion, being the rate determining step. The adsorption of BPA onto PAC was found to be driven both by hydrogen bonding and π–π interactions resulting in an adsorption capacity of about 62.5 mg g−1. Thermodynamic analysis has also been indicative of favorable adsorption of BPA onto PAC. Uptake of BPA was not significantly affected in 0.5 M NaCl medium.