scholarly journals Activated Carbon from Spent Coffee Grounds: A Good Competitor of Commercial Carbons for Water Decontamination

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (16) ◽  
pp. 5598
Author(s):  
Egle Rosson ◽  
Francesco Garbo ◽  
Giovanni Marangoni ◽  
Roberta Bertani ◽  
Maria Cristina Lavagnolo ◽  
...  

In the framework of the circular economy, spent coffee grounds were converted into powdered activated carbon by means of pyrolysis, using potassium hydroxide as the activating agent. Its adsorption capacity on a panel of phenolic compounds was compared with those of two commercial powdered activated carbons, after preliminary studies on organic dyes with different ionic properties, to assess the affinity between adsorbates and adsorbents. Pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-order kinetic models were carried out, together with Freundlich and Langmuir isotherms. They were useful to calculate the breakthrough at 5%, 10%, and 50% of adsorption and the partition coefficients for the comparison of performance between different sorbent systems in a less biased manner (e.g., reducing bias associated with operational settings like sorbate concentration and sorbents dosage). The results showed that the removal efficiency for SCGs-AC was comparable with that of the commercial activated carbons with the highest partition coefficients for methylene blue (12,455 mg/g/μM, adsorption capacity = 179 mg/g) and 3-chlorophenol (81.53 mg/g/μM, adsorption capacity = 3765 mg/g). The lower efficiency in bromothymol blue and bisphenol-A adsorption was due to its different morphology and surface properties.

Processes ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (8) ◽  
pp. 1396
Author(s):  
Gustavo A. Figueroa Campos ◽  
Jeffrey Paulo H. Perez ◽  
Inga Block ◽  
Sorel Tchewonpi Sagu ◽  
Pedro Saravia Celis ◽  
...  

The valorization of coffee wastes through modification to activated carbon has been considered as a low-cost adsorbent with prospective to compete with commercial carbons. So far, very few studies have referred to the valorization of coffee parchment into activated carbon. Moreover, low-cost and efficient activation methods need to be more investigated. The aim of this work was to prepare activated carbon from spent coffee grounds and parchment, and to assess their adsorption performance. The co-calcination processing with calcium carbonate was used to prepare the activated carbons, and their adsorption capacity for organic acids, phenolic compounds and proteins was evaluated. Both spent coffee grounds and parchment showed yields after the calcination and washing treatments of around 9.0%. The adsorption of lactic acid was found to be optimal at pH 2. The maximum adsorption capacity of lactic acid with standard commercial granular activated carbon was 73.78 mg/g, while the values of 32.33 and 14.73 mg/g were registered for the parchment and spent coffee grounds activated carbons, respectively. The Langmuir isotherm showed that lactic acid was adsorbed as a monolayer and distributed homogeneously on the surface. Around 50% of total phenols and protein content from coffee wastewater were adsorbed after treatment with the prepared activated carbons, while 44, 43, and up to 84% of hydrophobic compounds were removed using parchment, spent coffee grounds and commercial activated carbon, respectively; the adsorption efficiencies of hydrophilic compounds ranged between 13 and 48%. Finally, these results illustrate the potential valorization of coffee by-products parchment and spent coffee grounds into activated carbon and their use as low-cost adsorbent for the removal of organic compounds from aqueous solutions.


2011 ◽  
Vol 64 (10) ◽  
pp. 2059-2065 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cínthia S. Castro ◽  
Anelise L. Abreu ◽  
Carmen L. T. Silva ◽  
Mário C. Guerreiro

The present work highlights the preparation of activated carbons (ACs) using spent coffee grounds, an agricultural residue, as carbon precursor and two different activating agents: water vapor (ACW) and K2CO3 (ACK). These ACs presented the microporous nature and high surface area (620–950 m2 g−1). The carbons, as well as a commercial activated carbon (CAC) used as reference, were evaluated as phenol adsorbent showing high adsorption capacity (≈150 mg g−1). The investigation of the pH solution in the phenol adsorption was also performed. The different activating agents led to AC with distinct morphological properties, surface area and chemical composition, although similar phenol adsorption capacity was verified for both prepared carbons. The production of activated carbons from spent coffee grounds resulted in promising adsorbents for phenol removal while giving a noble destination to the residue.


2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marina Ramón-Gonçalves ◽  
Lorena Alcaraz ◽  
Susana Pérez-Ferreras ◽  
María Eugenia León-González ◽  
Noelia Rosales-Conrado ◽  
...  

AbstractA valorization process of spent coffee grounds (SCG) was studied. Thus, a two-stage process, the first stage of polyphenols extraction and synthesis of a carbonaceous precursor and a subsequent stage of obtaining activated carbon (AC) by means of a carbonization process from the precursor of the previous stage, was performed. The extraction was carried out with a hydro-alcoholic solution in a pressure reactor, modifying time, temperature and different mixtures EtOH:H2O. To optimize the polyphenols extraction, a two-level factorial experimental design with three replicates at the central point was used. The best results were obtained by using a temperature of 80 °C during 30 min with a mixture of EtOH:H2O 50:50 (v/v). Caffeine and chlorogenic acid were the most abundant compounds in the analysed extracts, ranging from 0.09 to 4.8 mg∙g−1 and 0.06 to 9.7 mg∙g−1, respectively. Similarly, an experimental design was realized in order to analyze the influence of different variables in the AC obtained process (reaction time, temperature and KOH:precursor ratio). The best results were 1 h, 850 °C, and a mixture of 2.5:1. The obtained activated carbons exhibit a great specific surface (between 1600 m2∙g−1 and 2330 m2∙g−1) with a microporous surface. Finally, the adsorption capacity of the activated carbons was evaluated by methylene blue adsorption.


Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (8) ◽  
pp. 2295
Author(s):  
Marwa El-Azazy ◽  
Ahmed S. El-Shafie ◽  
Hagar Morsy

Biochars (BC) of spent coffee grounds, both pristine (SCBC) and impregnated with titanium oxide (TiO2@SCBC) were exploited as environmentally friendly and economical sorbents for the fluroquinolone antibiotic balofloxacin (BALX). Surface morphology, functional moieties, and thermal stabilities of both adsorbents were scrutinized using SEM, EDS, TEM, BET, FTIR, Raman, and TG/dT analyses. BET analysis indicated that the impregnation with TiO2 has increased the surface area (50.54 m2/g) and decreased the pore size and volume. Batch adsorption experiments were completed in lights of the experimental set-up of Plackett-Burman design (PBD). Two responses were maximized; the % removal (%R) and the adsorption capacity (qe, mg/g) as a function of four variables: pH, adsorbent dosage (AD), BALX concentration ([BALX]), and contact time (CT). %R of 68.34% and 91.78% were accomplished using the pristine and TiO2@SCBC, respectively. Equilibrium isotherms indicated that Freundlich model was of a perfect fit for adsorption of BALX onto both adsorbents. Maximum adsorption capacity (qmax) of 142.55 mg/g for SCBC and 196.73 mg/g for the TiO2@SCBC. Kinetics of the adsorption process were best demonstrated using the pseudo-second order (PSO) model. The adsorption-desorption studies showed that both adsorbents could be restored with the adsorption efficiency being conserved up to 66.32% after the fifth cycles.


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 59-66
Author(s):  
Son Le Lam ◽  
Phu Nguyen Vinh ◽  
Hieu Le Trung ◽  
Tan Le Thua ◽  
Nhan Dang Thi Thanh ◽  
...  

Glucomannan/graphene oxide (GM/GO) hydrogel was synthesized by using calcium hydroxide as the crosslinker. The synthesized material was characterized by using IR, XRD, SEM, EDX and RAMAN technology. The composite hydrogel was used for removal of organic dyes from aqueous solution. The results showed that the GM/GO hydrogel had a porous structure and a high adsorption capacity toward methylene blue (MB). The pseudo-second-order kinetic model could fit the rate equation of MB adsorption onto the GM/GO hydrogel. The adsorption of MB onto GM/GO hydrogel was a spontaneous process. In addition, the equilibrium adsorption isotherm data indicated that equilibrium data were fitted to the Langmuir isotherm and the maximum dye adsorption capacity was 198,69 mg.g-1. Moreover, the hydrogel was stable and easily recovered and adsorption capacity was around 97% of the initial saturation adsorption capacity after being used five times.


2012 ◽  
Vol 518-523 ◽  
pp. 2099-2103
Author(s):  
Guang Zhou Qu ◽  
Hai Bing Ji ◽  
Ran Xiao ◽  
Dong Li Liang

The activated carbon fiber (ACF) was treated by different concentration nitric acid (HNO3) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) oxidization to enhance its adsorption capacity to hexavalent chromium (Cr6+) ion. The adsorption amount and adsorption kinetics of Cr6+ion on ACFs, and the surface chemical groups were investigated. The results showed that the modified ACFs with 1% HNO3and 10% H2O2had a better adsorption capacity, respectively. The adsorption amount of ACFs was affected strongly solution pH value, and decreased significantly with increasing of the pH value. The adsorption kinetics indicated that the adsorption rates of Cr6+ ion on different modified ACFs were well fitted with the pseudo-second-order kinetic model. After 1% HNO3and 10% H2O2modification, respectively, the total acidic oxygen-containing groups on ACFs surface had an increase obviously, which might be enhance the adsorption amount of Cr6+ion on ACFs.


BioResources ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 6100-6120
Author(s):  
Yinan Hao ◽  
Yanfei Pan ◽  
Qingwei Du ◽  
Xudong Li ◽  
Ximing Wang

Armeniaca sibirica shell activated carbon (ASSAC) magnetized by nanoparticle Fe3O4 prepared from Armeniaca sibirica shell was investigated to determine its adsorption for Hg2+ from wastewater. Fe3O4/ASSAC was characterized using XRD (X-ray diffraction), FTIR (Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy), SEM (scanning electron microscopy), and BET (Brunauer–Emmett–Teller). Optimum adsorption parameters were determined based on the initial concentration of Hg2+, reaction time, reaction temperature, and pH value in adsorption studies. The experiment results demonstrated that the specific surface area of ASSAC decreased after magnetization; however the adsorption capacity and removal rate of Hg2+ increased 0.656 mg/g and 0.630%, respectively. When the initial concentration of Hg2+ solution was 250 mg/L and the pH value was 2, the adsorption time was 180 min and the temperature was 30 °C, and with the Fe3O4/ASSAC at 0.05 g, the adsorption reaching 97.1 mg/g, and the removal efficiency was 99.6%. The adsorption capacity of Fe3O4/ASSAC to Hg2+ was in accord with Freundlich isotherm models, and a pseudo-second-order kinetic equation was used to fit the adsorption best. The Gibbs free energy ΔGo < 0,enthalpy change ΔHo < 0, and entropy change ΔSo < 0 which manifested the adsorption was a spontaneous and exothermic process.


Energies ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (9) ◽  
pp. 2237
Author(s):  
Sara Stelitano ◽  
Giuseppe Conte ◽  
Alfonso Policicchio ◽  
Alfredo Aloise ◽  
Giovanni Desiderio ◽  
...  

Pinecones, a common biomass waste, has an interesting composition in terms of cellulose and lignine content that makes them excellent precursors in various activated carbon production processes. The synthesized, nanostructured, activated carbon materials show textural properties, a high specific surface area, and a large volume of micropores, which are all features that make them suitable for various applications ranging from the purification of water to energy storage. Amongst them, a very interesting application is hydrogen storage. For this purpose, activated carbon from pinecones were prepared using chemical activation with different KOH/precursor ratios, and their hydrogen adsorption capacity was evaluated at liquid nitrogen temperatures (77 K) at pressures of up to 80 bar using a Sievert’s type volumetric apparatus. Regarding the comprehensive characterization of the samples’ textural properties, the measurement of the surface area was carried out using the Brunauer–Emmett–Teller method, the chemical composition was investigated using wavelength-dispersive spectrometry, and the topography and long-range order was estimated using scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction, respectively. The hydrogen adsorption properties of the activated carbon samples were measured and then fitted using the Langmuir/ Töth isotherm model to estimate the adsorption capacity at higher pressures. The results showed that chemical activation induced the formation of an optimal pore size distribution for hydrogen adsorption centered at about 0.5 nm and the proportion of micropore volume was higher than 50%, which resulted in an adsorption capacity of 5.5 wt% at 77 K and 80 bar; this was an increase of as much as 150% relative to the one predicted by the Chahine rule.


Molecules ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (13) ◽  
pp. 3081 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nurul Aida Nordin ◽  
Norizah Abdul Rahman ◽  
Abdul Halim Abdullah

Heavy metal pollution, such as lead, can cause contamination of water resources and harm human life. Many techniques have been explored and utilized to overcome this problem, with adsorption technology being the most common strategies for water treatment. In this study, carbon nanofibers, polyacrylonitrile (PAN)/sago lignin (SL) carbon nanofibers (PAN/SL CNF) and PAN/SL activated carbon nanofibers (PAN/SL ACNF), with a diameter approximately 300 nm, were produced by electrospinning blends of polyacrylonitrile and sago lignin followed by thermal and acid treatments and used as adsorbents for the removal of Pb(II) ions from aqueous solutions. The incorporation of biodegradable and renewable SL in PAN/SL blends fibers produces the CNF with a smaller diameter than PAN only but preserves the structure of CNF. The adsorption of Pb(II) ions on PAN/SL ACNF was three times higher than that of PAN/SL CNF. The enhanced removal was due to the nitric acid treatment that resulted in the formation of surface oxygenated functional groups that promoted the Pb(II) ions adsorption. The best-suited adsorption conditions that gave the highest percentage removal of 67%, with an adsorption capacity of 524 mg/g, were 40 mg of adsorbent dosage, 125 ppm of Pb(II) solution, pH 5, and a contact time of 240 min. The adsorption data fitted the Langmuir isotherm and the pseudo-second-order kinetic models, indicating that the adsorption is a monolayer, and is governed by the availability of the adsorption sites. With the adsorption capacity of 588 mg/g, determined via the Langmuir isotherm model, the study demonstrated the potential of PAN/SL ACNFs as the adsorbent for the removal of Pb(II) ions from aqueous solution.


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