Removal of Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals in Water using Textile-Related Wastes. I Removal of 4-Nonylphenol by Microporous Carbons Prepared from Cotton Waste

Abstract

For recycling of textile wastes and for environmental preservation, preparation of carbonaceous adsorbent from cotton waste and its application to removal of endocrine-disrupting chemicals in water were investigated. In cotton towel carbonized at 600°C and activated at 850°C with steam, increasing activation time caused a decrease in microporous carbon yield and a linear increase in specific surface area. The specific surface area of microporous carbon with 50 % yield was approximately 1000 m2/g. Activation with air produced an equal yield of microporous carbon to steam activation, but a smaller mean pore diameter. The amount of 4-nonylphenol adsorbed onto both of the cotton waste-based microporous carbons was very high, even in extremely dilute solution, and efficient removal from aqueous solution was achieved.