Abstract
In this study, the adsorption performance of powdered activated carbon (PAC) on phenol was investigated in aqueous solutions. Batch adsorption studies were performed to evaluate the effects of various experimental parameters like PAC type, PAC dose, initial solution pH, temperature and pre-oxidation on the adsorption of phenol by PAC and establish the adsorption kinetics, thermodynamics and isothermal models. The results indicated that PAC adsorption is an effective method to remove phenol from water, and the effects of all the five factors on adsorption of phenol were significant. The adsorption rate of phenol by PAC was rapid, and more than 80% phenol could be absorbed by PAC within the initial 10 min. The adsorption process can be well described by pseudo-second-order adsorption kinetic model with rate constant amounted to 0.0313, 0.0305 and 0.0241 mg·μg−1·min−1 with coal, coconut shell and bamboo charcoal. The equilibrium data of phenol absorbed onto PAC were analyzed by Langmuir, Freundlich and Tempkin adsorption isotherms and Freundlich adsorption isotherm model gave the best correlation with the experimental data. Thermodynamic parameters such as the standard Gibbs free energy (ΔG°), enthalpy (ΔH°) and entropy (ΔS°) obtained in this study indicated that the adsorption of phenol by PAC is spontaneous, exothermic and entropy decreasing.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Explore related subjects
Discover the latest articles, news and stories from top researchers in related subjects.Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Damjanović L, Rakić V, Rac V, Stošić D, Auroux A. The investigation of phenol removal from aqueous solutions by zeolites as solid adsorbents. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 2010, 184(1–3): 477–484
Lin S H, Juang R S. Adsorption of phenol and its derivatives from water using synthetic resins and low-cost natural adsorbents: a review. Journal of Environmental Management, 2009, 90(3): 1336–1349
Megharaj M, Pearson H W, Venkateswarlu K. Toxicity of phenol and three nitrophenols towards growth and metabolic activities of Nostoc linckia, isolated from soil. Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, 1991, 21(4): 578–584
Nair R J, Sherief PM. Acute toxicity of phenol and long-term effects on food consumption and growth of juvenile rohu Labeo rohita (Ham.) under tropical condition. Asian Fisheries Science, 1998, 10(3): 179–268
Yang L, Wang Y, Song J, Zhao W, He X, Chen J, Xiao M. Promotion of plant growth and in situ degradation of phenol by an engineered Pseudomonas fluorescens strain in different contaminated environments. Soil Biology & Biochemistry, 2011, 43(5): 915–922
Busca G, Berardinelli S, Resini C, Arrighi L. Technologies for the removal of phenol from fluid streams: a short review of recent developments. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 2008, 160(2–3): 265–288
Ahmaruzzaman M. Adsorption of phenolic compounds on low-cost adsorbents: a review. Advances in Colloid and Interface Science, 2008, 143(1–2): 48–67
Kim T Y, Jin H J, Park S S, Kim S J, Cho S Y. Adsorption equilibrium of copper ion and phenol by powdered activated carbon, alginate bead and alginate-activated carbon bead. Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry, 2008, 14(6): 714–719
Tancredi N, Medero N, Möller F, Píriz J, Plada C, Cordero T. Phenol adsorption onto powdered and granular activated carbon, prepared from Eucalyptus wood. Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, 2004, 279(2): 357–363
Fan J, Zhang J, Zhang C, Ren L, Shi Q. Adsorption of 2,4,6-trichlorophenol from aqueous solution onto activated carbon derived from loosestrife. Desalination, 2011, 267(2–3): 139–146
Bayer C, Follmann M, Melin T, Wintgens T, Laesson K, Almemark M. The ecological impact of membrane-based extraction of phenolic compounds—a life cycle assessment study. Water Science & Technology—WST, 2010, 62(4): 915–919
Zhang X J, Chen C, Ding J Q, Hou A X, Li Y, Niu Z B, Su X Y, Xu Y J, Laws E A. The 2007 water crisis inWuxi, China: analysis of the origin. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 2010, 182(1–3): 130–135
Tan I A W, Ahmad A L, Hameed B H. Adsorption isotherms, kinetics, thermodynamics and desorption studies of 2,4,6-trichlorophenol on oil palm empty fruit bunch-based activated carbon. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 2009, 164(2–3): 473–482
Dai M. Mechanism of adsorption for Dyes on activated carbon. Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, 1998, 198(1): 6–10
Qing C. Study on the adsorption of lanthanum(III) from aqueous solution by bamboo charcoal. Journal of Rare Earths, 2010, 28(1): 125–131
Zeid N A, Nakhla G, Farooq S, Osei-Twum E. Activated carbon adsorption in oxidizing environments. Water Research, 1995, 29(2): 653–660
Langergren S, Svenska B K. Zur theorie der sogenannten adsorption geloester stoffe. Kungliga Svenska Vetenskapsa-kademiens, Handlingar, 1898, 24(4): 1–39
Srihari V, Das A. The kinetic and thermodynamic studies of phenolsorption onto three agro-based carbons. Desalination, 2008, 225(1–3): 220–234
Tan I A W, Hameed B H, Ahmad A L. Equilibrium and kinetic studies on basic dye adsorption by oil palm fibre activated carbon. Chemical Engineering Journal, 2007, 127(1–3): 111–119
Weber W J, Morris J C. Advances in water pollution research: removal of biologically-resistant polluants from waste waters by adsorption. In: Proceedings of the International Conference on Water Pollution Symposium. Pergamon, Oxford, 1962, 2: 231–266
Fernandes A N, Almeida C A P, Debacher N A, Sierra M M D S. Isotherm and thermodynamic data of adsorption of methylene blue from aqueous solution onto peat. Journal of Molecular Structure, 2010, 982(1–3): 62–65
Kavitha D, Namasivayam C. Experimental and kinetic studies on methylene blue adsorption by coir pith carbon. Bioresource Technology, 2007, 98(1): 14–21
Sheha R R, Metwally E. Equilibrium isotherm modeling of cesium adsorption onto magnetic materials. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 2007, 143(1–2): 354–361
Fu Q, Deng Y, Li H, Liu J, Hu H, Chen S, Sa T. Equilibrium, kinetic and thermodynamic studies on the adsorption of the toxins of Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki by clay minerals. Applied Surface Science, 2009, 255(8): 4551–4557
Su J, Lin H F, Wang Q P, Xie Z M, Chen Z L. Adsorption of phenol from aqueous solutions by organomontmorillonite. Desalination, 2011, 269(1–3): 163–169
Fytianos K, Voudrias E, Kokkalis E. Sorption-desorption behaviour of 2,4-dichlorophenol by marine sediments. Chemosphere, 2000, 40(1): 3–6
Haghseresht F, Lu G. Q. Adsorption characteristics of phenolic compounds onto coal-reject-derived adsorbents. Energy & Fuels, 1998, 12(6): 1100–1107
Li Y H, Di Z, Ding J, Wu D, Luan Z, Zhu Y. Adsorption thermodynamic, kinetic and desorption studies of Pb2+ on carbon nanotubes. Water Research, 2005, 39(4): 605–609
Yue Q Y, Li Q, Gao B Y, Yuan A J, Wang Y. Formation and characteristics of cationic-polymer/bentonite complexes as adsorbents for dyes. Applied Clay Science, 2007, 35(3–4): 268–275
Vonopen B. Kordel W, Klein W. Sorption of nonpolar and polar compounds to soils: processes, measurement and experience with the applicability of the modified OECD-Guideline 106. Chemosphere, 1991, 22(3–4): 285–304
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Ma, Y., Gao, N., Chu, W. et al. Removal of phenol by powdered activated carbon adsorption. Front. Environ. Sci. Eng. 7, 158–165 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11783-012-0479-7
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11783-012-0479-7