Utilization of activated carbon produced from fruit juice industry solid waste for the adsorption of reactive red (procion red MX-5B) from aqueous solutions

Abstract

In this study, activated carbon production from pomegranate pulp was carried out via chemical activation. The influences of parameters such as temperature, impregnation time, impregnation ratio on activated carbon production were investigated. Activation experiments were carried out using KOH at temperatures of 500 degrees C and 700 degrees C, with the impregnation ratio of 0.5/1; 1/1; 2/1 and impregnation duration of 24 or 48 hours. Activated carbons obtained from the experiments were characterized by BET, FTIR, elemental, and SEM. The activated carbon with the surface area of 668.9825 m(2)/g was obtained and used as an adsorbent for the removal of dye from the aqueous solutions. The influences of pH, adsorbent dose, initial dye concentration and temperature on adsorption were investigated. The maximum dye removal efficiency of 96.60% was obtained at the adsorbent dose of 10 g/L initial concentration of 50 ppm and a solution pH 1.