New Activated Carbon from Persian Mesquite Grain as an Excellent Adsorbent

This paper presents a systematic study of the surface chemistry, porous texture and adsorptive characteristics of a newly prepared activated carbon using Persian mesquite grain. Several techniques and methodologies such as, proximate analysis, N2 adsorption-desorption isotherms, scanning electron microscope (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), temperature programmed desorption (TPD), Thermo gravimetric analysis TGA/DTA, elemental analysis (CHNS), Boehm titration, and point of zero charge (pHpzc) have been used to determine the physicochemical properties of raw material and activated carbon, respectively. The prepared activated carbon has been also used to remove methyl orange (MO) and methylene blue (MB) as anionic and cationic azo dyes.