H₂SO₄-modified Aloe vera leaf shells for the removal of P-chlorophenol and methylene blue from aqueous environment

Abstract

In this study, the surface properties of activated carbon from Aloe vera leaf shells were modified by sulfuric acid Aloe vera-acid activated carbon (AV-AAC) and then used as a novel adsorbent to remove para-chlorophenol (p-CP) and methylene blue (MB) from aqueous solutions. The adsorbent was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis and Fourier transform infrared spectra (FTIR). The maximum monolayer adsorption capacities were found to be 137 and 192.3 mg/g for p-CP and MB, respectively. Due to low-cost and high adsorption capacity, AV-AAC can be considered as an effective adsorbent for wastewater treatment containing p-CP or MB.

Keywords:

• Adsorption
• Aloe vera
• p-chlorophenol
• methylene blue
• activated carbon

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Student Research Committee, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences for providing financial supported by grant: (LUMS-1615) of this research.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

The authors would like to thank Student Research Committee, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences for providing financial supported by grant: (LUMS-1615) of this research.