Preparation of mesoporous activated carbon from olives seeds: Optimization study on removal of herbicide 2, 4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid from aqueous solutions

Author:   Jasim M. Salman & Abed J. Kadhim

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Abstract

Mesoporous activated carbon was prepared using olives seeds as a precursor by physiochemical activation method which consisted of potassium hydroxide (KOH) treatment and carbon dioxide (CO2) gasification. The effects of preparation conditions (activation temperature, activation time and chemical impregnation ratio) on the prepared activated carbon yield and the removal of 2,4Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) were investigated. From the analysis of variance (ANOVA), the most influential factor on each experimental design response was identified. The activated carbon preparation conditions were optimized by maximizing both the activated carbon yield and pesticides removal. The predicted of carbon yield and pesticides removal from the models agreed satisfactorily with the experimental values. The optimum conditions for preparing activated carbon from olives seeds for removal of 2,4-D were found as follow: CO2 activation temperature of 595.5 oC, CO2 activation time of 50 min and KOH: char impregnation ratio of 2.2, which resulted in activated carbon yield of 22.2% and 2,4-D removal of %91.5 respectively.

Keywords: Olive's seeds; Activated carbon; Physical activation; Herbicides