REGENERATION OF ACTIVATED CARBON AFTER ADSORPTION OF DYE USING PERACETIC ACID. PART 2: ROLE OF PERACETIC ACID IN THE OXIDATION STEP

Abstract

This study focuses on investigating how peracetic acids can be used to regenerate activated carbon and remove methylene blue. The research provides valuable insights into the process of regeneration and the effectiveness of peracetic acids in revitalizing the activated carbon surface. By conducting desorption experiments, we observed that approximately 4.5% of the initially adsorbed methylene blue was released into the washing solution, while the majority (95.5%) remained strongly attached to the activated carbon. Through Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy analysis, it was determined that after undergoing oxidation by peracetic acids, the regenerated carbon surface exhibited the emergence of additional functional groups, such as hydroxyl and carboxyl groups. Liquid phase chromatography analysis confirmed the successful removal of methylene blue from the liquid phase, indicating the high selectivity of the peracetic acids/Co2+ system in treating the adsorbed methylene blue molecules. Furthermore, Brunauer - Emmett-Teller analysis demonstrated that the regenerated carbon retained its surface characteristics and porous structure, with only slight reductions in specific surface area and total pore volume. These findings emphasize the effectiveness of peracetic acids in the regeneration process and its potential to improve the reusability of activated carbon in industrial applications. The study provides valuable insights for further research on the regeneration mechanism and the optimization of regeneration conditions utilizing peracetic acids.