Surface Modification of Bamboo-based Activated Carbon for Methylene Blue Removal

keywords:bamboo-based activated carbon  surfactant  methylene blue  adsorption performance

Abstract:The feasibility of biomass-based activated carbon has received tremendous attention owing to its excellent properties, such as insensitivity, good adsorption performance, and potential to reduce the strong dependence on non-reproducible precursors. In this study, bamboo-based activated carbon (BAC) was used as the raw material for methylene blue (MB) removal. Cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), and sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate (SDBS) were used as BAC surface modifiers. The morphologies and structures of the samples were characterized. In addition, the effects of the surfactant type and concentration on the adsorption-based removal of MB from aqueous solutions by the modified BAC were systematically investigated. For the 0.2 g/L MB solution, the MB removal rate reached 99.7% when the concentration of CTAB was 0.25 g/L. Moreover, the kinetic model curve of 0.25 g/L CTAB-modified BAC (CAC) was consistent with the Freundlich isotherm model. This research work enriches the technical pathway of modification and application of activated carbon, which is not only beneficial for realizing the high-value utilization of biomass bamboo resources but also can play an active role in guiding the treatment of MB-containing wastewater.