Fabrication of activated carbon from pomegranate husk by dual consecutive chemical activation for 4-chlorophenol adsorption

In the present work, the fabrication of activated carbon (AC) from pomegranate husk (PHAC) by dual consecutive activation processes with ZnCl2 and NaOH as a chemical agent was studied. After that, the synthesized PHAC was used for adsorption of 4-chlorophenol (4CP) as a highly toxic compound for the human health and the environment. Different analytical techniques characterized the synthesized PHAC using ZnCl2/NaOH. The isotherms of N-2 adsorption and desorption showed that total pore volume (V-total) and specific surface area (S-BET) of PHAC were 0.404 cm(3)/g and 811.12 m(2)/g, respectively. The 4CP adsorption by PHAC studies revealed that the highest 4CP removal efficiency was 100% and obtained at 50, 100, and 150 mg/L of 4CP concentration with 2.5 g/L of PHAC. Based on the batch experiments, the highest 4CP removal was achieved at pH 6, 2.5 g/L of PHAC, and contact time of 60 min. The 4CP adsorption data of equilibrium and kinetics were successfully fitted to Langmuir's isotherm and Avrami fractional order.

Automated summary

The study focused on the fabrication of activated carbon from pomegranate husk through dual consecutive activation processes, and its adsorption capacity for 4-chlorophenol. Results showed that PHAC exhibited high efficiency in removing 4CP, with optimal conditions achieved at specific compound concentrations and PHAC dosages.