Performance of Activated Carbon Prepared from Populus alba in Removal of Phenol from Aqueous Solution

Background and Phenols are considered as priority pollutants because of their potential harm to human health. So, they should be removed from water resources to avoid further pollutions. The aim of this research was to evaluate phenol adsorption from aqueous solution using activated carbon provided from Populus alba. In this experimental study we used activated carbon as adsorbent with a mesh 40 that was provided from P. alba. After preparation of stock solution, the effect of influencing parameters on adsorption process such as pH (4, 6, 8, 10), contact time (3-60 min), adsorbent dosage (0.25-5g/l), and initial phenol concentration (10-50 mg/L) were evaluated. Also, to describe the experimental data, the Langmuir, Freundlich, and Temkin isotherms, pseudo first- and pseudo second- order kinetic models were assessed. All experiments were conducted twice and the mean of percentage removal was obtained. BET surface areas of the activated carbon provided from P. alba were obtained at 1068 m2/g. According to Langmuir model, the maximum adsorption capacity of 172.41 mg/g was attained. Kinetic evaluation indicated that the adsorption of phenol by the investigated activated carbon followed the pseudo-second order reaction. This study showed that increase in contact time and adsorbent dosage increased the adsorption of phenol. While increase in pH and initial phenol concentration decreased phenol adsorption. Phenol was completely removed at pH4. The activated carbon provided from P. alba was found with a good potential for phenol removal from wastewaters. P. alba tree is abundantly found in many areas in Iran, therefore, it could be used to produce adsorbent and may be applied for removal of pollutants in water and wastewater industry.