Activated Carbons from Hydrothermal Carbonization and Chemical Activation of Olive Stones: Application in Sulfamethoxazole Adsorption

Elena Diaz, Ines Sanchis, Charles J. Coronella and Angel F. Mohedano
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Elena Diaz: Chemical Engineering Department, Faculty of Sciences, Universidad Autonoma de Madrid, 28049 Madrid, Spain
Ines Sanchis: Chemical Engineering Department, Faculty of Sciences, Universidad Autonoma de Madrid, 28049 Madrid, Spain
Charles J. Coronella: Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Nevada, Reno, NV 89557, USA
Angel F. Mohedano: Chemical Engineering Department, Faculty of Sciences, Universidad Autonoma de Madrid, 28049 Madrid, Spain

Resources, 2022, vol. 11, issue 5, 1-13

Abstract: This work focuses on the production of activated carbons by hydrothermal carbonization of olive stones at 220 °C, followed by chemical activation with KOH, FeCl 3 and H 3 PO 4 of the hydrochar obtained. In addition, N-doped hydrochars were also obtained by performing the hydrothermal carbonization process with the addition of (NH 4 ) 2 SO 4 . All hydrochars, N-doped and non-doped, showed low BET surface areas (4–18 m 2 g −1 ). Activated hydrochars prepared using H 3 PO 4 or KOH as activating agents presented BET surface areas of 1115 and 2122 m 2 g −1 , respectively, and those prepared from N-doped hydrochar showed BET surface area values between 1116 and 2048 m 2 g −1 with an important contribution of mesoporosity (0.55–1.24 cm 3 g −1 ). The preparation procedure also derived inactivated hydrochars with predominantly acidic or basic groups on their surface. The resulting materials were tested in the adsorption of sulfamethoxazole in water. The adsorption capacity depended on both the porous texture and the electrostatic interactions between the adsorbent and the adsorbate. The adsorption equilibrium data (20 °C) fitted fairly well to the Langmuir equation, and even better to the Freundlich equation, resulting in the non-doped hydrochar activated with the KOH as the best adsorbent.

Keywords: activated carbon; adsorption; hydrochar; hydrothermal carbonization; N-doped materials; olive stones; sulfamethoxazole (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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