Hamed Biglari - Gonabad University of Medical Sciences
Mojtaba Afsharnia - Gonabad University of Medical Sciences
Nasibe Javan - Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran
Seyed Ali Sajadi - Gonabad University of Medical Sciences

Background and Purpose: Phenol and derivatives are common pollutants of drinking water which are blamed for crucial adverse effects such as poisoning, cancer, and malformation. In this study, an activated carbon of Miswak’s root (MR) was used for the removal of phenol from aqueous solutions as a low-cost and high surface adsorbent. Materials and Methods: Adsorption experiments were then conducted in a batch reactor with activated carbon prepared from MR and treated with KMnO۴ to study the effects of contact time (۰-۱۸۰ minutes), pH (۳-۱۳), initial phenol concentration (۱۰۰-۱۰۰۰ mg/L), and adsorbent dosage (۰.۱-۱ g/L) at lab temperature ۳۰ ± ۱° C on sorption efficiency. KMnO۴ treatment influenced the physicochemical properties of the carbon and improved its adsorption rate. Results: The results showed that the equilibrium time of adsorption was ۱۲۰ minutes maximum adsorption capacity (۹۴.۷۶% phenol removed) of the MR carbon was ۱۴۲.۱۵ mg/g at pH ۵, the initial concentration of ۱۰۰ mg/L, ۳۰° C and ۱۸۰ minutes contact time. The optimum type of MR adsorbent was produced in ۸۰۰° C. The equilibrium data were analyzed by the Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms and fitted well with the Freundlich model (R۲ = ۰.۹۸۲۱) better than Langmuir (R۲ = ۰.۷۵۵۱) model. Conclusion: The results revealed that the carbon of MR modified with KMnO۴ had a satisfactory quality in phenol adsorption and can well be used as a novel, inexpensive, effective, and efficient adsorbent for the removal of phenol from the aquatic environment.

Salvadora Persica, Miswak’s Root, Adsorption, Freundlich, Phenol