Kinetic study of methyl orange adsorption on activated carbon derived from pine (Pinus strobus) sawdust

Abstract

Pine (Pinus strobus) sawdust (PSD), a sawmill waste, was used as a precursor for the preparation of activated carbon through a chemical activation technique with phosphoric acid at 600 °C (100 min). Phosphoric acid pine sawdust activated carbon (PSDP) was characterized and used for the adsorption of methyl orange (MO). The textural examination was applied to determine the total pore volume and specific surface area of PSDP. Carbon surface functional groups were identified utilizing Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The effects of pH, contact time, and adsorbent mass on the sorption were investigated in a batch procedure mode. Kinetic information was studied that followed the pseudo-second-order model. The results showed that PSDP could be used as a low-cost adsorbent for MO adsorption from waste effluents.