Phosphate Adsorption by Silver Nanoparticles-Loaded Activated Carbon derived from Tea Residue

• Published in: Scientific reports 2020-02, Vol.10 (1), p.3634, Article 3634
• Main Authors: Trinh, Van Tuyen, Nguyen, Thi Minh Phuong, Van, Huu Tap, Hoang, Le Phuong, Nguyen, Tien Vinh, Ha, L. T., Vu, Xuan Hoa, Pham, T. T., Nguyen, Thi Nu, Quang, N. V., Nguyen, X. C.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 639/166; 704/172; Activated carbon; Adsorption; Aqueous solutions; Camellia sinensis - chemistry; Charcoal - chemistry; Environmental Restoration and Remediation - instrumentation; Environmental Restoration and Remediation - methods; Humanities and Social Sciences; Kinetics; Metal Nanoparticles - chemistry; multidisciplinary; Nanoparticles; pH effects; Phosphate; Phosphates; Phosphates - chemistry; Plant Leaves - chemistry; Plant Preparations - chemistry; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); Silver; Silver - chemistry; Tea; Water Pollutants - chemistry
• ISSN: 2045-2322; 2045-2322
• DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-60542-0

This study presents the removal of phosphate from aqueous solution using a new silver nanoparticles-loaded tea activated carbon (AgNPs-TAC) material. In order to reduce costs, the tea activated carbon was produced from tea residue. Batch adsorption experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of impregnation ratio of AgNPs and TAC, pH solution, contact time, initial phosphate concentration and dose of AgNPs-AC on removing phosphate from aqueous solution. Results show that the best conditions for phosphate adsorption occurred at the impregnation ratio AgNPs/TAC of 3% w/w, pH 3, and contact time lasting 150 min. The maximum adsorption capacity of phosphate on AgNPs-TAC determined by the Langmuir model was 13.62 mg/g at an initial phosphate concentration of 30 mg/L. The adsorption isotherm of phosphate on AgNPs-TAC fits well with both the Langmuir and Sips models. The adsorption kinetics data were also described well by the pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-order models with high correlation coefficients of 0.978 and 0.966, respectively. The adsorption process was controlled by chemisorption through complexes and ligand exchange mechanisms. This study suggests that AgNPs-TAC is a promising, low cost adsorbent for phosphate removal from aqueous solution.