Isotherm and kinetics studies for the adsorption of bisphenol A from aqueous solution by activated carbon of Musa acuminata

Abstract

Bisphenol A (BPA) has been widely used in plastic industries. The chemical waste from industry is sometimes dumped into rivers and lakes then these surface waters can become polluted. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the adsorption process of BPA by banana fronds (Musa acuminata), an agricultural waste material. Batch experiment was performed by varying different operational parameters including contact time, concentration of BPA, concentration of adsorbents, agitation, and pH. The results confirmed 63.83 % as the highest removal efficiency at 3-hour contact time, 9 mg/L of adsorbent concentration, 40 mg/l of BPA initial concentration, pH of 5, and agitation speed at 150 rpm. In explaining the sorption potential of adsorbents, Langmuir isotherm was better fit with the experimental isotherm data (R 2 = 0.9876) compared to other employed isotherm models. In addition, the pseudo-first-order outperformed (R 2 = 0.8493) in the kinetic behaviors compared to other employed kinetic models. The analysis by the Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM) exhibited the specific area of the adsorbent identified as homogeneous surface. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis confirmed the surface functional groups of the adsorbent before and after BPA removal. The present study indicated that the activated carbon is an alternative of low-cost product as an adsorbent in BPA removal.