Abstract
The removal of emergent contaminants via adsorption on granular activated carbon, prepared from Macauba palm, has been studied, contributing to the recovery of the residual biomass, endocarp, obtained in the Macauba palm oil extraction process. The material was characterized by different techniques, such as Raman spectroscopy, thermal analysis, adsorption/desorption of N2, zeta potential, and scanning electron microscopy. The N2 adsorption studies showed that the material presents wide micropores and narrow mesopores, and has a surface area of 907.0 m2 g−1. Its maximum adsorption capacity towards the three main emerging contaminants (bisphenol A, ethinylestradiol, and amoxicillin) is much higher than that obtained with benchmark adsorbents (0.148, 0.104, and 0.072 mmol g−1, respectively). The influence of temperature and pH on the adsorption was also analyzed, allowing an improved description of the adsorption mechanism and showing very promising results.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Arami-Niya A, Daud WMAW, Mjalli FS (2010) Using granular activated carbon prepared from oil palm shell by ZnCl 2 and physical activation for methane adsorption. J Anal Appl Pyrolysis 89:197–203. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaap.2010.08.006
Ayodele OB, Lim JK, Hameed BH (2012) Pillared montmorillonite supported ferric oxalate as heterogeneous photo-Fenton catalyst for degradation of amoxicillin. Appl Catal A Gen 413–414:301–309. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apcata.2011.11.023
Bandosz TJ (2008) Removal of inorganic gases and vocs on activated carbons. In: Adsorption by carbons, pp 533–564
Barrera D, Villarroel-Rocha J, Tara JC, Basaldella EI, Sapag K (2014) Synthesis and textural characterization of a templated nanoporous carbon from MCM-22 zeolite and its use as adsorbent of amoxicillin and ethinylestradiol. Adsorption 20:967–976. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10450-014-9640-x
Budi A, Stipp SLS, Andersson MP (2018) The effect of solvation and temperature on the adsorption of small organic molecules on calcite. Phys Chem Chem Phys 20:7140–7147. https://doi.org/10.1039/C7CP06747J
Choi KJ, Kim SG, Kim SH (2008) Removal of antibiotics by coagulation and granular activated carbon filtration. J Hazard Mater 151:38–43. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2007.05.059
Clara M, Strenn B, Saracevic E, Kreuzinger N (2004) Adsorption of bisphenol-A, 17 beta-estradiole and 17 alpha-ethinylestradiole to sewage sludge. Chemosphere 56:843–851. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2004.04.048
Corwin CJ, Summers RS (2010) Scaling trace organic contaminant adsorption capacity by granular activated carbon. Environ Sci Technol 44:5403–5408. https://doi.org/10.1021/es9037462
da Silva Lacerda V, López-Sotelo JB, Correa-Guimarães A, Hernández-Navarro S, Sánchez-Báscones M, Navas-Gracia LM, Martín-Ramos P, Martín-Gil J (2015) Rhodamine B removal with activated carbons obtained from lignocellulosic waste. J Environ Manag 155:67–76. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2015.03.007
de Lopes D, C, Steidle Neto AJ, Mendes AA, Pereira DTV (2013) Economic feasibility of biodiesel production from Macauba in Brazil. Energy Econ 40:819–824. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eneco.2013.10.003
Deng H, Li G, Yang H, Tang J, Tang J (2010) Preparation of activated carbons from cotton stalk by microwave assisted KOH and K2CO3 activation. Chem Eng J 163:373–381. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2010.08.019
Deng H, Yang L, Tao G, Dai J (2009) Preparation and characterization of activated carbon from cotton stalk by microwave assisted chemical activation-application in methylene blue adsorption from aqueous solution. J Hazard Mater 166:1514–1521. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2008.12.080
Elmolla ES, Chaudhuri M (2010) Photocatalytic degradation of amoxicillin, ampicillin and cloxacillin antibiotics in aqueous solution using UV/TiO2 and UV/H2O2/TiO2 photocatalysis. Desalination 252:46–52. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.desal.2009.11.003
Feng Y, Zhang Z, Gao P, Su H, Yu Y, Ren N (2010) Adsorption behavior of EE2 (17 alpha-ethinylestradiol) onto the inactivated sewage sludge: kinetics, thermodynamics and influence factors. J Hazard Mater 175:970–976. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2009.10.105
Freundlich HMF (1906) Over the adsorption in solution. J Phys Chem 57:385–471
Ghani ZA, Yusoff MS, Zaman NQ, Zamri MFMA, Andas J (2017) Optimization of preparation conditions for activated carbon from banana pseudo-stem using response surface methodology on removal of color and COD from landfill leachate. Waste Manag 62:177–187. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2017.02.026
Gonçalves DB, Batista AF, Rodrigues MQRB, Nogueira KMV, Santos VL (2013) Ethanol production from macaúba (Acrocomia aculeata) presscake hemicellulosic hydrolysate by Candida boidinii UFMG14. Bioresour Technol 146:261–266. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2013.07.075
Han J, Qiu W, Cao Z, Hu J, Gao W (2013) Adsorption of ethinylestradiol (EE2) on polyamide 612: molecular modeling and effects of water chemistry. Water Res 47:2273–2284. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2013.01.046
Ho YS, Mckay G (1999) Pseudo-second order model for sorption processes. Process Biochem 34:451–465
Homem V, Santos L (2011) Degradation and removal methods of antibiotics from aqueous matrices—a review. J Environ Manag 92:2304–2347. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2011.05.023
Hou K, Zhang A, Gu L, Liu M, Guo X (2012) Journal of colloid and interface science efficient synthesis and sulfonation of ordered mesoporous carbon materials. J Colloid Interface Sci 377:18–26. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcis.2012.03.029
Jung YJ, Kim WG, Yoon Y, Kang JW, Hong YM, Kim HW (2012) Removal of amoxicillin by UV and UV/H2O2 processes. Sci Total Environ 420:160–167. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2011.12.011
Karanfil T, Kilduff JE (1999) Role of granular activated carbon surface chemistry on the adsorption of organic compounds. 1. Priority pollutants. Environ Sci Technol 33:3217–3224. https://doi.org/10.1021/es981016g
Katsigiannis A, Noutsopoulos C, Mantziaras J, Gioldasi M (2015) Removal of emerging pollutants through granular activated carbon. Chem Eng J 280:49–57. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2015.05.109
Kim JR, Huling SG, Kan E (2015) Effects of temperature on adsorption and oxidative degradation of bisphenol A in an acid-treated iron-amended granular activated carbon. Chem Eng J 262:1260–1267. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2014.10.065
Kwiatkowski M, Fierro V, Celzard A (2017) Numerical studies of the effects of process conditions on the development of the porous structure of adsorbents prepared by chemical activation of lignin with alkali hydroxides. J Colloid Interface Sci 486:277–286. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcis.2016.10.003
Li K, Ji F, Liu Y, Tong Z, Zhan X, Hu Z (2013) Adsorption removal of tetracycline from aqueous solution by anaerobic granular sludge: equilibrium and kinetic studies. Water Sci Technol 67:1490–1496. https://doi.org/10.2166/wst.2013.016
Li M, Zeng Z, Li Y, Arowo M, Chen J, Meng H, Shao L (2015a) Treatment of amoxicillin by O3/Fenton process in a rotating packed bed. J Environ Manag 150:404–411. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2014.12.019
Li X, Chen S, Fan X, Quan X, Tan F, Zhang Y, Gao J (2015b) Adsorption of ciprofloxacin, bisphenol and 2-chlorophenol on electrospun carbon nanofibers: in comparison with powder activated carbon. J Colloid Interface Sci 447:120–127. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcis.2015.01.042
Liu G, Ma J, Li X, Qin Q (2009) Adsorption of bisphenol A from aqueous solution onto activated carbons with different modification treatments. J Hazard Mater 164:1275–1280. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2008.09.038
Mambrini RV, Fonseca TL, Dias A, Oliveira LCA, Araujo MH, Moura FCC (2012) Magnetic composites based on metallic nickel and molybdenum carbide: a potential material for pollutants removal. J Hazard Mater 241–242:73–81. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2012.09.002
Michelin S, Penha FM, Sychoski MM, Scherer RP, Treichel H, Valério A, di Luccio M, de Oliveira D, Oliveira JV (2015) Kinetics of ultrasound-assisted enzymatic biodiesel production from Macauba coconut oil. Renew Energy 76:388–393. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2014.11.067
Miralles-Cuevas S, Audino F, Oller I, Sánchez-Moreno R, Sánchez Pérez JA, Malato S (2014) Pharmaceuticals removal from natural water by nanofiltration combined with advanced tertiary treatments (solar photo-Fenton, photo-Fenton-like Fe(III)-EDDS complex and ozonation). Sep Purif Technol 122:515–522. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seppur.2013.12.006
Moura EF, Motoike SY, Ventrella MC, de Sá Júnior AQ, Carvalho M (2009) Somatic embryogenesis in macaw palm (Acrocomia aculeata) from zygotic embryos. Sci Hortic (Amsterdam) 119:447–454. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scienta.2008.08.033
Moura FCC, Tristão JC, Lago RM, Martel R (2008) LaFexMoyMnzO3 perovskite as catalyst precursors for the CVD synthesis of carbon nanotubes. Catal Today 133–135:846–854. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cattod.2007.11.056
Petrie B, Barden R, Kasprzyk-Hordern B (2014) A review on emerging contaminants in wastewaters and the environment: current knowledge, understudied areas and recommendations for future monitoring. Water Res 72:3–27. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2014.08.053
Pouretedal HR, Sadegh N (2014) Effective removal of amoxicillin, cephalexin, tetracycline and penicillin G from aqueous solutions using activated carbon nanoparticles prepared from vine wood. J Water Process Eng 1:64–73. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jwpe.2014.03.006
Prauchner MJ, Rodríguez-Reinoso F (2012) Chemical versus physical activation of coconut shell: a comparative study. Microporous Mesoporous Mater 152:163–171. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.micromeso.2011.11.040
Radjenović J, Petrović M, Ventura F, Barceló D (2008) Rejection of pharmaceuticals in nanofiltration and reverse osmosis membrane drinking water treatment. Water Res 42:3601–3610. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2008.05.020
Rizzo L, Manaia C, Merlin C, Schwartz T, Dagot C, Ploy MC, Michael I, Fatta-Kassinos D (2013) Urban wastewater treatment plants as hotspots for antibiotic resistant bacteria and genes spread into the environment: a review. Sci Total Environ 447:345–360. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2013.01.032
Rosenfeldt EJ, Linden KG (2004) Degradation of endocrine disrupting chemicals bisphenol A, ethinyl estradiol , and estradiol during UV photolysis and advanced oxidation processes. Environ Sci Technol 38:5476–5483
Rossner A, Snyder SA, Knappe DRU (2009) Removal of emerging contaminants of concern by alternative adsorbents. Water Res 43:3787–3796. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2009.06.009
Secondes MFN, Naddeo V, Belgiorno V, Ballesteros F (2014) Removal of emerging contaminants by simultaneous application of membrane ultrafiltration, activated carbon adsorption, and ultrasound irradiation. J Hazard Mater 264:342–349. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2013.11.039
Sekar R, Kailasa SK, Chen Y-C, Wu H-F (2014) Electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometric studies to probe the interaction of Cu(II) with amoxicillin. Chinese Chem Lett 25:39–45. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cclet.2013.10.012
Silva LN, Cardoso CC, Pasa VMD (2016) Synthesis and characterization of esters from different alcohols using Macauba almond oil to substitute diesel oil and jet fuel. Fuel 166:453–460. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2015.10.070
Thommes M, Kaneko K, Neimark AV, Olivier JP, Rodriguez-Reinoso F, Rouquerol J, Sing KSW (2015) Physisorption of gases, with special reference to the evaluation of surface area and pore size distribution (IUPAC technical report). Pure Appl Chem 87:1051–1069. https://doi.org/10.1515/pac-2014-1117
Torrellas SÁ, García Lovera R, Escalona N, Sepúlveda C, Sotelo JL, García J (2015) Chemical-activated carbons from peach stones for the adsorption of emerging contaminants in aqueous solutions. Chem Eng J 279:788–798. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2015.05.104
Trovó AG, Pupo Nogueira RF, Agüera A, Fernandez-Alba AR, Malato S (2011) Degradation of the antibiotic amoxicillin by photo-Fenton process—chemical and toxicological assessment. Water Res 45:1394–1402. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2010.10.029
Verbinnen RT, Nunes GS, Vieira EM (2010) Determinação de hormônios estrógenos em água potável usando CLAE-DAD. Quim Nova 33:1837–1842. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0100-40422010000900003
Vieira SS, Magriotis ZM, Santos NAV, Cardoso MG, Saczk AA (2012) Macauba palm (Acrocomia aculeata) cake from biodiesel processing: an efficient and low cost substrate for the adsorption of dyes. Chem Eng J 183:152–161. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2011.12.047
Zhao D, Cheng J, Vecitis CD, Hoffmann MR (2011) Sorption of perfluorochemicals to granular activated carbon in the presence of ultrasound. J Phys Chem A 115:2250–2257. https://doi.org/10.1021/jp111784k
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to acknowledge CNPq, CAPES, FAPEMIG and INCT-Midas for financial support and also the Center of Microscopy at the Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (http://www.microscopia.ufmg.br) for providing the equipment and technical support for experiments involving electron microscopy.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Responsible editor: Guilherme L. Dotto
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Moura, F.C.C., Rios, R.D.F. & Galvão, B.R.L. Emerging contaminants removal by granular activated carbon obtained from residual Macauba biomass. Environ Sci Pollut Res 25, 26482–26492 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-018-2713-8
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-018-2713-8