Surface Response Evaluation of Agro-waste for Efficient Adsorption of Phenol from Wastewater

Removal Phenol from Wastewater

Abstract

The feasibility of using modified activated carbon (AC) obtained from discarded agricultural waste, including carrot residues, sawdust and orange pulp for phenol removal from aqueous solution was studied. The results showed maximum removal was found in sawdust AC compared to orange pulp AC and carrot waste AC, 76%, 73% and 72% respectively. The maximum result of sawdust AC was achieved at concentration of 10 mg/L, pH 4.5, 1.5 h and 2 g dose whereas for orange pulp AC and concentration of 10 mg/L, pH 7.5, 2 h and 2 g dose of orange pulp AC. The ANOVA analysis was performed to check the suitability of central composite design and the quadratic model was found to be appropriate. This study concluded that natural, low-cost bio-sorbent derived from sawdust, orange pulp and carrot residues may be useful for phenol removal.