Adsorption of p-chlorophenol onto microporous activated carbon from Albizia lebbeck seed pods by one-step microwave assisted activation

Agricultural wastes, Albizia lebbeck seed pods, have been utilized as precursors for production of a microporous activated carbon using one step microwave assisted K2CO3 activation. The sorption performance of prepared carbon for p-chlorophenol (PCPh) was investigated by batch adsorption technique. Effects of radiation time, radiation power, and impregnation ratio on the sorption performance were studied to determine the best preparation conditions. Carbon with 26.2% yield and 247.9 mg/g PCPh uptake has been obtained at conditions of 8 min radiation time, 540 W radiation power and 1.5 g/g impregnation ratio. The surface area, micropore volume, and mesopore volume of prepared carbon at best conditions were 1676.6 m2/g, 0.527 cm3/g, and 0.181 cm3/g, respectively. The best fitting for PCPh equilibrium isotherm data was achieved by the three-parameter Sips isotherm with a maximum adsorption capacity of 300.6 mg/g. The experimental kinetic data were well represented by the pseudo-second order model.