Adsorption of Phenol from Industrial Wastewater using Commercial Powdered Activated Carbon

Abstract

Adsorption studies for phenol removal from aqueous solution onto commercial Powdered Activated Carbon were carried out. Batch kinetics and isotherm studies were carried out under varying conditions of contact time, initial phenol concentration, adsorbent dose and pH. The adsorption of phenol increases with increasing initial phenol concentration and decreases with increasing the solution pH value. The equilibrium data in aqueous solutions was well represented by the Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models. Kinetics of adsorption followed a first order rate equation. The studies showed that the Commercial Powdered Activated Carbon can be used as an efficient adsorbent material for the removal of phenolics from water and industrial wastewater.