Sulfur-doped porous carbon derived from waste polyphenylene sulfide for efficient adsorption removal of Cd2+from simulated wastewater

Abstract

Sulfur-doped porous carbon materials were prepared from waste polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) by chemical activation using potassium hydroxide as activator. The elemental composition (sulfur content) and the number of acid oxygen-containing groups on the surface of the samples were determined by elemental analysis and Boehm method, respectively. The effects of preparation temperature and adsorption conditions on the removal of Cd2+ from simulated wastewater were studied according to the amount of cadmium removal. The results showed that the sulfur-doped porous carbon materials prepared under the optimal preparation conditions had better adsorption properties as compared to HNO3 modified bamboo-derived biochar. This result is mainly due to the Lewis acid-base interaction between sulfur and Cd2+ in addition to the coordination of Cd2+ and oxygen-containing groups on the surface. Under the optimal adsorption conditions, the removal of cadmium in simulated wastewater can reach 98.74%. In conclusion, this cheap porous carbon material may be a useful adsorbent for cadmium.