Removal of color material by activated carbon of some agricultural waste

Abstract

Activated carbon is well known as a porous material and has a large specific surface area. Therefore, such a material has desirable adsorption properties and has been used for purification and elimination of hazardous components. Due to the current increased problems of environmental pollution, activated carbon is expected to play an important role in pollution abatement. This study aimed to investigate the removal of methylene blue with activated carbon produced from olive seeds, olive pomace and walnut shells. In the study, the impact of the adsorbents employed for dye adsorption was analyzed based on the initial dye concentration, contact duration and, kinetic and isotherm properties were determined based on the study findings. Analysis showed that the best pore structure was in the olive seed activated carbon and alcohols, ketones and carboxyl groups formed in activated carbon samples. The X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy findings demonstrated the highest C content was in the olive seed activated carbon sample after the commercial activated carbon. The activated carbon samples were employed to adsorb 10 mg/L methylene blue solution.