Removal of two ionic dyes from water by MgO-loaded porous carbons prepared through one-step process from poly(ethylene terephthalate)/magnesium carbonate mixtures

Abstract

Mixtures of poly(ethylene terephthalate) and magnesium carbonate at different weight ratios were heated up to 850°C in argon atmosphere. During heating, components of the initial mixtures underwent thermal decomposition yielding porous carbon materials loaded with different amounts of magnesium oxide. Structural characteristics of the prepared materials were determined from adsorption/desorption isotherms of nitrogen, measured at 77 K. For reference, portions of the products obtained were acid-washed to obtain MgO-free carbons. Pore structures of the prepared materials were strongly dependent on the quantitative compositions of starting mixtures. As a rule, specific surface areas determined for acid-washed materials were much higher than those forMgO-loaded carbons. The adsorption abilities of obtained materials towards cationic (Basic Red 18) and anionic (Reactive Red 198) dyes as model contaminants were examined. Surprisingly, in spite of relatively low specific surface areas, substantially high adsorption of the dyes on MgO-loaded carbons was observed. An influence of specific surface area and the role of magnesium oxide presence on the adsorption capacity of the acquired sorbents were studied. © Indian Academy of Sciences.