Characterization of treated and untreated Sawdust and its Valorization as Adsorbent

Lignocellulosic residues can be used in wastewater treatment as clean, natural and low cost adsorbents. In the present study, our approach is to develop the preparation and characterization by physicochemical methods of an adsorbent material, from mixed red and hard wood sawdust. The preparation of the adsorbent material includes the sieving of the sawdust, the extraction of the extractables, a pretreatment with sulphuric acid H2SO4 (at 20% to 50% and at 80%) as an activating agent. The chemical modification, which serves to improve the adsorption capacity of the material, is verified by means of analysis: Fourier Transfer Infrared (FTIR) and X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) (crystallinity index). The chemical modification of the lignocellulosic material induced a significant elimination of hemicelluloses, which resulted in the appearance of a new microstructure, especially in the case of acid pre-hydrolysis at 50% and 80%, in favor of increasing its potential adsorption capacity proven by testing it on the adsorption of acetic acid.