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Effects of activation conditions on the structural and adsorption characteristics of pinecones derived activated carbons

ABSTRACT This study was conducted to understand and optimize the activation process for the production of a low-cost activated carbon (AC) using a renewable and plentiful biomass waste, pinecones. This was achieved by tracking the changes in porous structure, surface chemistry and adsorption properties of the AC produced using different activating agents, activation temperatures, holding times and heating rates. Generally, produced ACs were predominantly microporous with small external surface area and were different in terms of H/C and O/C ratios. Study of Pb2+ cations adsorption on these samples proved the high affinity of the pinecones derived ACs to this cation. The best adsorption behaviour was recognized in sample prepared by impregnation with H3PO4 at weight ratio of 2, then heating at 400 °C for 2 h at 5 °C/min heating rate. This sample possessed the highest BET surface area (1335 m2/g). The adsorption process obeyed the pseudo-first-order and Freundlich model slightly better than the pseudo-second-order kinetics and Langmuir model. The high Langmuir maximum adsorption capacity of 418 mg/g supports the applicability of the produced AC for the removal of Pb2+ cations from wastewater. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT