Optimization of the Preparation of Activated Carbon from Prickly Pear Seed Cake for the Removal of Lead and Cadmium Ions from Aqueous Solution

Rimene Dhahri, Murat Yılmaz, Lassaad Mechi, Abdulmohsen Khalaf Dhahi Alsukaibi, Fathi Alimi, Ridha ben Salem and Younes Moussaoui
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Rimene Dhahri: Laboratory for the Application of Materials to the Environment, Water and Energy (LR21ES15), Faculty of Sciences of Gafsa, University of Gafsa, Gafsa 2112, Tunisia
Murat Yılmaz: Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Osmaniye Korkut Ata University, Osmaniye 80000, Turkey
Lassaad Mechi: Department of Chemistry, College of Science, University of Hail, Hail 81451, Saudi Arabia
Abdulmohsen Khalaf Dhahi Alsukaibi: Department of Chemistry, College of Science, University of Hail, Hail 81451, Saudi Arabia
Fathi Alimi: Department of Chemistry, College of Science, University of Hail, Hail 81451, Saudi Arabia
Ridha ben Salem: Organic Chemistry Laboratory (LR17ES08), Faculty of Sciences of Sfax, University of Sfax, Sfax 3029, Tunisia
Younes Moussaoui: Depertment of Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences of Gafsa, University of Gafsa, Gafsa 2112, Tunisia

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 6, 1-17

Abstract: In this study, we evaluated the use of prickly pear seed cake, a by-product of prickly pear seed oil extraction, as a new precursor for producing activated carbon by phosphoric acid activation, and the obtained carbon’s capacity for heavy metal removal from aqueous solution. Response surface methodology based on the full factorial design at two levels (2 4 ) was developed to reduce the number of experiments and reach optimal preparation conditions for the removal of cadmium and lead ions from aqueous solutions. Design Expert 11.1.2.0 Trial software was used for generating the statistical experimental design and analyzing the observed data. Factors influencing the activation process, such as carbonization temperature, activation temperature, activation time, and impregnation ratio, were studied. Responses were studied in depth with an analysis of variance to estimate their significance. Each response was outlined by a first-order regression equation demonstrating satisfactory correspondence between the predicted and experimental results as the adjusted coefficients of correlation. Based on the statistical data, the best conditions for the removal of heavy metals from aqueous solution by the obtained activated carbon were indicated. The maximum iodine number and methylene blue index were 2527.3 mg g −1 and 396.5 mg g −1 , respectively, using activated carbon obtained at the following conditions: Tc = 500 °C, Ta = 500 °C, impregnation ratio = 2:1 (g H 3 PO 4 : g carbon), and activation time of two hours. The maximum adsorption reached 170.2 mg g −1 and 158.4 mg g −1 for Cd 2+ and Pb 2+ , respectively, using activated carbon obtained at the following conditions: Tc = 600 °C, Ta = 400 °C, impregnation ratio = 2:1 (g H 3 PO 4 : g carbon), and activation time of one hour. The activated carbon obtained was characterized by Boehm titration, pH of point of zero charge (pH PZC ), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller surface area (S BET ), and scanning electron microscopy. Adsorption was performed according to different parameters: pH solution, adsorbent dosage, temperature, contact time, and initial concentration. Regeneration experiments proved that the obtained activated carbon still had a high removal capacity for Cd 2+ and Pb 2+ after five regeneration cycles.

Keywords: prickly pear seed cake; activated carbon; removal; heavy metals; regeneration (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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