Optimization of process variables to prepare activated carbon from Noug (Guizotia abyssinica cass.) stalk using response surface methodology

Even though adsorption is considered the simple, effective, and efficient method for the treatment of wastewater, accessibility of low-cost and locally available activated carbon remains the challenge. In response to this, recently significant amounts of agricultural byproducts have been investigate...

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Main Authors: Getasew Yirdaw, Awrajaw Dessie, Tsegaye Adane Birhan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2023-06-01
Series:Heliyon
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844023044626
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author Getasew Yirdaw
Awrajaw Dessie
Tsegaye Adane Birhan
author_facet Getasew Yirdaw
Awrajaw Dessie
Tsegaye Adane Birhan
author_sort Getasew Yirdaw
collection DOAJ
description Even though adsorption is considered the simple, effective, and efficient method for the treatment of wastewater, accessibility of low-cost and locally available activated carbon remains the challenge. In response to this, recently significant amounts of agricultural byproducts have been investigated to prepare low-cost porous carbon, but there is still a problem related to cost and availability. So, Noug stalk, chosen because of its abundance and low cost as an agricultural byproduct in Ethiopia, was chemically activated with phosphoric acid to produce a low-cost porous carbon. The production of Noug stalk activated carbon (NSAC) is optimized using response surface methodology. A central composite design was used to investigate the effect of three process parameters, namely carbonization temperature (450–650 °C), activation time (90–150 min), and impregnation ratio (w/w) (1–3), on the BET surface area and yield of porous carbon. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) result shows that all three process parameters showed a significant effect on the surface area of porous carbon, while only carbonization temperature showed a significant effect on the yield of porous carbon. The best conditions for NSAC preparation were a carbonization temperature of 537.50 °C, an activation time of 127 min, and an impregnation ratio of 1.95, resulting in a BET surface area and yield of 473.45 m2 g−1 and 53.78%, respectively. The expected and observed values of the model for the outcome variable were highly comparable. Several analytical techniques, including proximal analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and N2 adsorption-desorption, were used to characterize the NSAC. The results demonstrated that the prepared NSAC has a highly porous structure comparable to porous carbon obtained from other biomass feedstocks. This implies it would be used as a potential low-cost alternative for wastewater treatment using the adsorption process.
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spelling doaj.art-86de58d297164f2ba8ff9f021f543bca2023-06-20T04:20:10ZengElsevierHeliyon2405-84402023-06-0196e17254Optimization of process variables to prepare activated carbon from Noug (Guizotia abyssinica cass.) stalk using response surface methodologyGetasew Yirdaw0Awrajaw Dessie1Tsegaye Adane Birhan2Department of Environmental Health Science, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Debre Markos University, P.O Box 269, Debre Markos, Ethiopia; Corresponding author.Department of Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, P.O Box 196, Gondar, EthiopiaDepartment of Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, P.O Box 196, Gondar, EthiopiaEven though adsorption is considered the simple, effective, and efficient method for the treatment of wastewater, accessibility of low-cost and locally available activated carbon remains the challenge. In response to this, recently significant amounts of agricultural byproducts have been investigated to prepare low-cost porous carbon, but there is still a problem related to cost and availability. So, Noug stalk, chosen because of its abundance and low cost as an agricultural byproduct in Ethiopia, was chemically activated with phosphoric acid to produce a low-cost porous carbon. The production of Noug stalk activated carbon (NSAC) is optimized using response surface methodology. A central composite design was used to investigate the effect of three process parameters, namely carbonization temperature (450–650 °C), activation time (90–150 min), and impregnation ratio (w/w) (1–3), on the BET surface area and yield of porous carbon. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) result shows that all three process parameters showed a significant effect on the surface area of porous carbon, while only carbonization temperature showed a significant effect on the yield of porous carbon. The best conditions for NSAC preparation were a carbonization temperature of 537.50 °C, an activation time of 127 min, and an impregnation ratio of 1.95, resulting in a BET surface area and yield of 473.45 m2 g−1 and 53.78%, respectively. The expected and observed values of the model for the outcome variable were highly comparable. Several analytical techniques, including proximal analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and N2 adsorption-desorption, were used to characterize the NSAC. The results demonstrated that the prepared NSAC has a highly porous structure comparable to porous carbon obtained from other biomass feedstocks. This implies it would be used as a potential low-cost alternative for wastewater treatment using the adsorption process.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844023044626Noug stalkActivated carbonResponse surface methodologySurface areaYield
spellingShingle Getasew Yirdaw
Awrajaw Dessie
Tsegaye Adane Birhan
Optimization of process variables to prepare activated carbon from Noug (Guizotia abyssinica cass.) stalk using response surface methodology
Heliyon
Noug stalk
Activated carbon
Response surface methodology
Surface area
Yield
title Optimization of process variables to prepare activated carbon from Noug (Guizotia abyssinica cass.) stalk using response surface methodology
title_full Optimization of process variables to prepare activated carbon from Noug (Guizotia abyssinica cass.) stalk using response surface methodology
title_fullStr Optimization of process variables to prepare activated carbon from Noug (Guizotia abyssinica cass.) stalk using response surface methodology
title_full_unstemmed Optimization of process variables to prepare activated carbon from Noug (Guizotia abyssinica cass.) stalk using response surface methodology
title_short Optimization of process variables to prepare activated carbon from Noug (Guizotia abyssinica cass.) stalk using response surface methodology
title_sort optimization of process variables to prepare activated carbon from noug guizotia abyssinica cass stalk using response surface methodology
topic Noug stalk
Activated carbon
Response surface methodology
Surface area
Yield
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844023044626
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