The use of activated carbons obtained from waste products in the removal of organic pollutants

In this study, activated carbon obtained from the carbonization of rice husks grown in Boyabat District of Sinop Province at high temperature was activated with water vapor and was doped with silver. The obtained silver-catalyzed activated carbon was used in the catalytic reduction of nitro aromatic organic compounds and organic dyes. The structure of the obtained activated carbon was examined by SEM (Scanning electron microscope), the pore characterization of the material was carried out by BET (Brunauer-Emmet-Teller). In addition, the presence of silver in the structure was determined by XRD (X-ray diffraction) method. Catalytic reduction of organic pollutants was followed by UV-Vis spectroscopy. The removal of pollutants was proven by the change in absorbance bands of organic pollutants and color changes in solutions containing pollution. The reusability potential of the synthesized PAC-Ag catalyst was investigated on the catalytic reduction of 2-nitroaniline under the determined reaction parameters. The product was recovered from the reaction medium by filtration method, and after washing with water and ethanol, it was observed that it could be used repeatedly in 4 consecutive reactions without losing its activity.