Issue 73, 2014

Preparation and characterization of bio-safe activated charcoal derived from coffee waste residue and its application for removal of lead and copper ions

Abstract

Activated charcoal was prepared by the pyrolysis of coffee ground waste residues impregnated by phosphoric acid and potassium hydroxide at 600 °C. In our study, spent coffee was collected from the university canteen and the prepared activated charcoal impregnated with potassium hydroxide gave the highest surface area of 708.1 ± 0.1 m2 g−1, which was determined by using the methylene blue adsorption method. The activated charcoal was characterized by using scanning electron microscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. In order to ensure that the activated charcoal produced is bio-safe, all samples were tested for possible toxic substances, including toxic heavy metals by using ICP-OES, and toxic organics such as acrylamide by using chromatography methods. In addition, all samples showed no ecotoxicity towards Escherichia coli and no cytotoxicity toward human HaCaT skin cells. The phosphoric acid activated charcoal demonstrated a high Qmax of 95.2 and 38.2 mg g−1, respectively for lead and copper adsorption. For potassium hydroxide activated charcoal, the values of Qmax were found to be 45.4 and 21.2 mg g−1, respectively for lead and copper adsorption.

Graphical abstract: Preparation and characterization of bio-safe activated charcoal derived from coffee waste residue and its application for removal of lead and copper ions

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
29 May 2014
Accepted
14 Aug 2014
First published
15 Aug 2014

RSC Adv., 2014,4, 38839-38847

Preparation and characterization of bio-safe activated charcoal derived from coffee waste residue and its application for removal of lead and copper ions

P. Yeung, P. Chung, H. Tsang, J. Cheuk-On Tang, G. Yin-Ming Cheng, R. Gambari, C. Chui and K. Lam, RSC Adv., 2014, 4, 38839 DOI: 10.1039/C4RA05082G

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