رسائل ماجيستير
English
2011
Synthesis and Charactrization of Activated Carbon Prepared from Palm Seeds and Applications for 4-Chlorophenol Removal from Aqeoues Solution
M. A. Al-Harthi , R .A. Shawabkeh, سعيد محمد الغامدي
كلية الهندسة-جامعة الملك فهد للبترول والمعادن · السعودية
Environmental pollution is nowadays one of the most important challenges that are facing humanity. It has been increasing dramatically in the last few years and reached an alarming point. Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) are considered among the most important pollutants that hazard human and animals’ lives. Wastewater containing VOCs such as 4-Chlorophenol, leads to water pollution even in trace amount.Therefore, in this thesis it was goal to produce activated carbon from palm seeds which high surface area and pore size distribution. Seventy one treatment method for the palm seeds including both physical and chemical activation methods were performed in this research. It was found that the raw material that treated with phosphoric acid using physical activation at 550 oC for 30 minutes while the flow rate of carbon dioxide 0.8 ml/min shows the best surface area of 1440 m2/g. The yield of this sample was 93.88 % compared to those treated with phosphoric, sulfuric and nitric acid (73.43%). Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) showed that this activated carbon contains oxygen and phosphorous functional groups which provides evidence that the carbon surface has been enriched with oxygen and phosphorous functional groups. Also, zero point of charge (ZPC) for this activated carbon was 4.89 at zero pH value. On the other hand, FTIR (Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy) showed the presence of carboxylic functional groups, aromatic functional groups on the surface of the prepared activated carbon.This sample was further tested for its adsorption capacity against 4-chlorophenol and showed a maximum adsorption capacity of (17 mg/g). The previous adsorption capacity was achieved with 60 minutes adsorption which represents 8.5 % of the initial concentration. The isotherm model was fitted using BET, Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm and found that BET is the best fit for these data with regression coefficient of 0.98. Also, it was found that 4-CP adsorption on this activated carbon surface is endothermic process.