Removal of 2-chlorophenol from aqueous solutions using activated carbon-impregnated Fe(III)

Abstract

This manuscript combines both the advantages of the high surface area of activated carbon (AC) and the strong high affinity of Fe(III) for reacting with phenolic compounds. So, AC, activated carbon-impregnated Fe(III) (AC-Fe), activated carbon-immobilized Eriochrome Blue Black as a complexing agent (AC-EBB) and its impregnated Fe(III) form (AC-EBB-Fe) were prepared and characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and Scanning electron microscope. Batch experiments were conducted at 25°C, at pH values 3, 6, 9, and 12, with 50 mg/L 2-Chlorophenol (2-CP) concentration, 25 mg adsorbent mass and a 1 h shaking time to evaluate and compare their efficiency for the removal of 2-CP. Generally, the impregnated Fe(III) adsorbents were better than the non impregnated ones. Moreover, AC-Fe adsorbent was the best according to the order AC-Fe (97.0%) > AC (89.9%) > AC-EBB-Fe (79.0%) > AC-EBB (65.9%) judging from values of percentage extraction at pH 9. So, the optimization of 2-CP removal using AC-Fe was thus continued at different parameters, including pH, initial 2-CP concentration, and shaking time. The equilibrium data in aqueous solution were well fitted with Langmuir sorption isotherm (Q_o 333.3 mg/g, R² 0.975) In addition, kinetics of 2-CP adsorption onto AC-Fe followed a pseudo-second-order reaction. Application of AC-Fe for the removal of 2-CP from natural water samples was achieved successfully.

Keywords:

• Iron
• Activated carbon
• 2-Chlorophenol
• Eriochrome Blue Black
• Natural water samples