Abstract

Sechaba Machedi¹, Ikechukwu P. Ejidike*^1,2, Fanyana M. Mtunzi^1,3 Vusumzi E. Pakade¹and Michael J. Klink¹

DOI : http://dx.doi.org/10.13005/ojc/350501

Our environment is filled with chemicals that pollute the air, water, soil and food, the need to find solutions to the pollution problem. In this study, owing to the research niches like waste beneficiation, macadamia nutshell activated carbon (MAC) was investigated for its potential usage as an adsorbent for chlorinated phenols: 3-chlorophenol, 2,4,6-Trichlorophenol, 4-chloro-3-methylphenol, 2,4-Dichlorophenol removal, and its activity compared with grafted macadamia nutshell activated carbon (GMAC). The adsorbent was characterized using FTIR, SEM, and TGA. Parameters like pH, temperature, contact time, concentration and adsorbent were examined. The PFO and PSO kinetic models were employed to investigate the experimental data. The PSO displayed the best fitting for the kinetic studies for MAC adsorption. The kinetics studies confirmed the adsorption system by pseudo-second-order kinetics model. The negative values of ΔG confirmed a spontaneous process, thereby, supporting the physisorption mechanisms of interactions between the chlorinated phenols and the adsorbents

Activated Carbon; Adsorption; Chlorinated Phenols; Macadamia Nutshell; Optimum Conditions; Thermodynamic

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