Obtaining of activated carbon from seeds of eucalyptus by chemical activation with H3PO4. Characterization and evaluation of adsorption capacity of phenol from aqueous solution

Abstract

Activated carbons were prepared from shell Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus Labil) by chemical activation using as activating agent solutions of phosphoric acid, at two different concentrations; 30 and 80% v/v. Carbons were texturally characterized by N2  physisorption,  the  apparent  surface  area  was  determined  by  B.E.T.,  method,  values  obtained  were  2009  and  1027  m2  g-1. Dubinin-Radushkevich equation was used to obtain the micropore volume with values of 0.65 and 0.32 cm3 g-1. Boehm method established that the carbons are acidic aspect confirmed by determining the point of zero charge. Solid energetic interactions against HCl and NaOH solutions were established by immersion calorimetry finding great correlation with the content of acidic and basic groups of the solids. Finally, the adsorption capacity of the solid was evaluated with phenol from aqueous solution since this is a priority pollutant, where high adsorption capacity of the two carbons was evident due to the large surface area, micropore volume and surface chemistry of solids.