Investigation of biomass wastes for granular activated carbon production

In this study, removal of dyestuff from wastewaters by adsorption with granular activated carbons obtained biomass wastes was investigated. Granular activated carbons used in adsorption process was obtained from cherry stone and walnut shell as a result of chemical activation by potassium carbonate (K2CO3). Acid Orange 7 was used as dyestuff. In batch studies, effects of initial pH, adsorption time and temperature was investigated on unit adsorbent per amount of adsorbed dyestuff. The results showed that Langmuir model appear to fit the adsorption better than other adsorption model for the adsorption of Acid Orange 7 onto granular activated carbons (AC10 and AC13). Two kinetic models, first order and pseudo second order were used to predict the adsorption rate constants. It was found that kinetic of the adsorption of Acid Orange 7 onto granular activated carbons at different temparatures was the best described by the pseudo second order model.