• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.401-410
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• 2018

Waste citrus peel-based activated carbon (WCAC) was prepared from waste citrus peels by activation with KOH. The removal of Cu and Pb ions from aqueous solution by the prepared WCAC was investigated in batch experiments. The solution pH significantly influenced Cu and Pb adsorption capacity and the optimum pH was 4 to 6. The adsorption of Cu and Pb ions by WCAC followed pseudo-second-order kinetics and the Langmuir isotherm model. The maximum adsorption capacity calculated by Langmuir isotherm model was 31.91 mg/g for Cu and 92.22 mg/g for Pb. As the temperature was increased from 303 K to 323 K, the ${\Delta}G^{\circ}$ value decreased from -7.01 to -8.57 kJ/mol for Cu ions and from -0.87 to -2.06 kJ/mol for Pb ions. These results indicated that the adsorption of Cu and Pb by WCAC is a spontaneous process.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.369-375
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• 2018

Batch experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of operating parameters such as the temperature, initial concentration, contact time and adsorbent dosage on the adsorption of antibiotics amoxicillin (AMX) by waste citrus peel based activated carbon (WCAC). The kinetics and isotherm experiment data can be well described with the pseudo-second order model and the Langmuir isotherm model, respectively. The maximum adsorption capacity of AMX by WCAC calculated from the Langmuir isotherm model was 125 mg/g. The adsorption of AMX by WCAC shows that the film diffusion (external mass transfer) and the intraparticle diffusion occur simultaneously during the adsorption process. The adsorption rate is more influenced by the intraparticle diffusion than that of the external mass transfer as the particle size of WCAC increases, and the intraparticle diffusion is the rate controlling step. The thermodynamic parameters indicated that the adsorption reaction of AMX by WCAC was an endothermic and spontaneous process.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.27 no.11
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• pp.1095-1104
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• 2018

The adsorption characteristics of bisphenol A (BPA) were investigated using activated carbon based on waste citrus peel (which is abandoned in large quantities in Jeju Island), denoted as WCP-AC, and surface-modified with various $P_2O_5$ concentrations (WCP-SM-AC). Moreover, coconut-based activated carbon (which is marketed in large amounts) was surface-modified in an identical manner for comparison. The adsorption equilibrium of BPA using the activated carbons before and after surface modification was obtained at nearly 48 h. The adsorption process of BPA by activated carbons and surface-modified activated carbons was well-described by the pseudo second-order kinetic model. The experimental data in the adsorption isotherm followed the Langmuir isotherm model. With increasing $P_2O_5$ concentration (250-2,000 mg/L), the amounts of BPA adsorbed by WCP-SM-AC increased till 1,000 mg/L of $P_2O_5$; however, above 1,000 mg/L of $P_2O_5$, the same amounts adsorbed at 1,000 mg/L of $P_2O_5$ were obtained. With increasing reaction temperature, the reaction rate increased, but the adsorbed amounts decreased, especially for the activated carbon before surface modification. The amounts of BPA adsorbed by WCP-AC and WCP-SM-AC were similar in the pH range of 5-9, but significantly decreased at pH 11, and increased with increasing ionic strength due to screening and salting-out effects.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.56 no.4
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• pp.568-576
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• 2018

In order to investigate the adsorption characteristics of the antibiotics trimethoprim (TMP) by activated carbon (WCAC) prepared from waste citrus peel, the effects of operating parameters on the TMP adsorption were investigated by using a response surface methodology (RSM). Batch experiments were carried out according to a four-factor Box-Behnken experimental design with four input parameters : concentration ($X_1$: 50-150 mg/L), pH ($X_2$: 4-10), temperature ($X_3$: 293-323 K), adsorbent dose ($X_4$: 0.05-0.15 g). The experimental data were fitted to a second-order polynomial equation by the multiple regression analysis and examined using statistical methods. The significance of the independent variables and their interactions was assessed by ANOVA and t-test statistical techniques. Statistical results showed that concentration of TMP was the most effective parameter in comparison with others. The adsorption process can be well described by the pseudo-second order kinetic model. The experimental data of isotherm followed the Langmuir isotherm model. The maximum adsorption amount of TMP by WCAC calculated from the Langmuir isotherm model was 144.9 mg/g at 293 K.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.24 no.11
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• pp.1463-1471
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• 2015

The surface modified activated carbons (SMACs) were prepared with various $P_2O_5$ concentrations using two activated carbons (ACs: waste citrus peel-based activated carbon and coconut-based activated carbon). The characteristics and adsorptivity of bisphenol A (one of phenolic endocrine disrupting chemicals) were compared between ACs and SMACs. The contents of C, H and N of SMACs were similar to those of ACs, but the content of $P_2O_5$ for the former increased greatly than for the latter, due to the impregnation of $P_2O_5$ into the pores. The specific surface area, total pore volume, average pore diameter and iodine adsorptivity for the former decreased due to the impregnation of $P_2O_5$ into the pores, compared to those for the latter. The adsorptivity of bisphenol A for the former were higher than that for the latter, although specific surface area, total pore volume, average pore diameter and iodine adsorptivity for the former were lower than those for the latter.