Investigation of p-nitro phenol adsorption by magnetically activated carbon prepared by green method

In this study, the green synthesis method was used for magnetization of activated carbon (MAC). Green tea extracts contain high concentrations of caffeine / polyphenols that act as reducing agents in the synthesis of Fe3O4 NPs. The MAC identified and analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and vibrational magnetometer (VSM). The results of the scanning electron microscopy and infrared spectroscopy show that the Fe3O4 nanoparticles were synthesized successfully with using Green tea. Measuring the magnetic properties of the MAC synthesized by the magnetometer (VSM) indicated that the synthesized nanoparticles had super-magnetic properties. Then, MAC used as an adsorbent for the adsorption of p-nitro phenol (p-NP) from aqueous solutions. The investigated factors for p-NP adsorption such as solution pH, initial concentration, adsorption time and different dosages of MAC were studied. Results from adsorption experiments showed that the removal efficiency of p-NP by MAC was about 98%, indicating that MAC has a high ability to remove p-NP from aqueous solutions.

Keywords:

Green synthesis , p-nitro phenol , Magnetic activated carbon , Adsorption