Regeneration of a Porous Iron-Containing Carbon Adsorbent under Plasma-Catalytic Conditions Assisted by Microwave Irradiation

Abstract

Abstract: This article reports experimental data on a double-step technology for processing a model organic contaminant (m-cresol) adsorbed in the pores of an iron-containing carbon adsorbent (specific surface area 616 m2/g) under microwave irradiation. The first step comprised the decomposition of cresol into a hydrogen-containing gas and a carbon residue under plasma-catalytic conditions assisted by microwave irradiation at an induced temperature of 600°C. Cresol was completely converted after 25 min of the MW irradiation. The second step consisted of adsorbent regeneration (by CO2 treatment under MW irradiation to remove the carbon residue) followed by thermal shock treatment (by decomposition of a pre-adsorbed ammonium hydroxide). After the regeneration, the specific surface area was 500 m2/g. The regenerated adsorbent exhibited almost the same cresol adsorption capacity as the starting material.