An adsorbent with a high adsorption capacity obtained from the cellulose sludge of industrial residues

• Published in: Chemosphere (Oxford) 2017-02, Vol.169, p.171-180
• Main Authors: Orlandi, Géssica, Cavasotto, Jéssica, Machado, Francisco R.S., Colpani, Gustavo L., Magro, Jacir Dal, Dalcanton, Francieli, Mello, Josiane M.M., Fiori, Márcio A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adsorption; Cellulose - chemistry; Cellulose residues; Coal adsorbent; Coal from cellulose sludge; Coal from residues; Industrial Waste; Kinetics; Methylene Blue - chemistry; Sewage - chemistry; Solutions; Temperature; Waste Disposal, Fluid - methods
• ISSN: 0045-6535; 1879-1298
• DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2016.11.071

One of the major problems in effluent treatment plants of the cellulose and paper industry is the large amount of residual sludge generated. Therefore, this industry is trying to develop new methods to treat such residues and to use them as new products, such as adsorbents. In this regard, the objective of this work was to develop an adsorbent using the raw activated sludge generated by the cellulose and paper industry. The activated cellulose sludge, after being dried, was chemically activated with 42.5% (v/v) phosphoric acid at 85 °C for 1 h and was charred at 500 °C, 600 °C and 700 °C for 2 h. The efficiency of the obtained adsorbent materials was evaluated using kinetic tests with methylene blue solutions. Using the adsorption kinetics, it was verified that the three adsorbents showed the capacity to adsorb dye, and the adsorbent obtained at a temperature of 600 °C showed the highest adsorption capacity of 107.1 mg g−1. The kinetic model that best fit the experimental data was pseudo-second order. The Langmuir-Freudlich isotherm adequately described the experimental data. As a result, the cellulose sludge generated by the cellulose and paper industries could be used as an adsorbent. Residual cellulose sludge, after being dried and ground, was chemically activated with 42.5% (v/v) phosphoric acid at 85 °C for 1 h and charred, and the adsorption properties of the coals were evaluated by kinetic experiments with methylene blue. [Display omitted]