Absorption of Phenol on Nitrogen-Enriched Activated Carbon from Wood Fiberboard Waste with Chemical Activation by Potassium Carbonate

Preparation of nitrogen-enriched activated carbons from wood fiberboard waste was studied. Activated carbons were obtained with an impregnation ratio (gram chemical agent/gram wood fiberboard waste) of 3 with 50 % potassium carbonate solution in 800°C activation temperature carbonized for 1h. Optimum adsorption conditions were determined as a function of effects of contact time, pH, and dosage of activated carbon and temperature of solution for phenol adsorption. Adsorption equilibrium was achieved with in 120 min at the given phenol concentration of 250 mg/L. When 0.3 g of the carbon absorbent and 100 mL of phenol solution at 250 mg/L were used, maximum adsorption capacity of phenol on activated carbon can reach 208 mg/g. In the adsorption isotherm .the Langmuir model fit better than the Freundlich model in phenol adsorption. The kinetics of phenol adsorption followed nicely the pseudosecond-order rate expression.