MDF and PB activated carbons for adsorption of dyes from liquid phase

The presence of pollutants in water is a recurring issue that is continuously addressed by governmental, intergovernmental, hybrid and non-governmental organizations and their action programs. Activated carbons (ACs) are currently used as adsorbents for waste water treatment. Combining the need to create and improve new carbon materials with the use and recovery of industrial by-products as precursors, we can achieve a balance between the high performance of these type of carbon adsorbents, cheap and sustainable sources of precursors.

AC samples were produced from medium-density fibreboard (MDF) and particleboard (PB) in monolithic form trough physical activation with carbon dioxide (CO₂) and chemical activation with K₂CO₃. Physical activated carbons were found to be essentially microporous with narrow pores and apparent surface areas (Abet) between 804 and 926 m²/g and chemical activated samples present wider pores, with Abet ranging from 951 to 1032 m²/g.

Liquid phase adsorption studies were made for several dyes both in a static and dynamic adsorption modes. In static mode high values of removal were achieved after 5 h, being this the time period used in the dynamic experiments, where some samples reached almost 100% removal.