Removal of water pollutants with activated carbons prepared from H3PO4 activation of lignin from kraft black liquors

Activated carbons with a high BET surface area and a well-developed porosity have been prepared from pyrolysis of H3PO4-impregnated lignin precipitated from kraft black liquors. Impregnation ratios within the range of 1–3 and activation temperatures of 623–873 K have been used, giving rise to carbons with different porous and surface chemical structure. Increasing the activation temperature and the impregnation ratio leads to a widening of the porous structure with a higher relative contribution of mesoporosity. The potential application of these carbons for the removal of water pollutants has been investigated by measuring their adsorption capacities for phenol, 2,4,5-trichlorophenol and Cr (VI) as representative of toxic contaminants found in industrial wastewaters. The results obtained compare well and even favorably with those reported in the literature for other activated carbons. An impregnation ratio and an activation temperature around 2 g H3PO4/g lignin and 700 K, respectively, are recommended as the best combination of operating conditions to prepare activated carbons for aqueous phase applications although at lower values of these two variables carbons with good adsorption capacities are also obtained.