Production, characterization, and evaluation of activated carbons from de-oiled canola meal for environmental applications

The objective of this study was the utilization of waste canola meal to produce activated carbons for environmental applications. Activated carbons were produced from de-oiled canola meal (DOCM) by slow-pyrolysis followed by physical (steam and CO2) and chemical (NH3 and KOH) activations. Physicochemical characteristics of the precursor and activated carbons were investigated using BET, FTIR, SEM, TGA, Boehm, CHNSO, and particle size analysis. The effect of activation methods on porous structure and surface chemistry of activated carbons was investigated. Activated carbons produced from canola meal were evaluated for their efficiency as adsorbents for ammonium ion adsorption from aqueous solutions. The effect of pH, surface area, and surface functional groups of activated carbons was examined on adsorption of ammonium ion at 260.0 mg/L. The role of both porous structure and surface functionality of activated carbons was studied as a function of adsorption of ammonium ion. The results showed that the maximum adsorption (q(e)) of ammonium ion was 55.4 mg/g for steam activated carbon, 17.9 mg/g for CO2 activated carbon, 56.7 mg/g for ammonia-treated activated carbon, and 148 mg/g for KOH activated carbon. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.