Title: Removal of 4-nitrophenol from aqueous solution by using recycled carbon black from waste tyres

Authors: Wen-Li Chen; Umi Fazara Md Ali; Nor Ashikin Ahmad; Khairuddin Md Isa; Mohd Aizudin Abd Aziz; Mohd Hairul Khamidun

Addresses: School of Environmental Engineering, Universiti Malaysia Perlis, Kompleks Pusat Pengajian Jejawi 3, 02600 Arau, Perlis, Malaysia ' School of Environmental Engineering, Universiti Malaysia Perlis, Kompleks Pusat Pengajian Jejawi 3, 02600 Arau, Perlis, Malaysia ' School of Environmental Engineering, Universiti Malaysia Perlis, Kompleks Pusat Pengajian Jejawi 3, 02600 Arau, Perlis, Malaysia ' School of Environmental Engineering, Universiti Malaysia Perlis, Kompleks Pusat Pengajian Jejawi 3, 02600 Arau, Perlis, Malaysia ' Faculty of Chemical and Natural Resources Engineering, University Malaysia Pahang, Pahang, Malaysia ' Micropollutant Research Centre, Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia, Batu Pahat, Malaysia

Abstract: The conversion of industrial waste into adsorbent for wastewater treatment is desirable as it promises cost-effective adsorbent and reduces waste productions. Adsorption of the 4-nitrophenol by recycled carbon black (rCB) and modified rCB (MCB) was investigated in this research to determine their adsorption capacity by varying various parameters: initial concentration, pH, contact time and adsorbent dosage. The surface morphology, surface chemistry, iodine adsorption number and ash content of both samples were also analysed. The adsorption characteristic of 4-nitrophenol was determined by equilibrium and kinetic studies. Equilibrium isotherm was tested by using Langmuir and Freundlich models. The maximum adsorption capacity of 4-nitrophenol onto rCB and MCB was found to be 7.46 mg/g and 21.83 mg/g, respectively. The adsorption kinetic data of both rCB and MCB fit better to pseudo-second-order kinetic model. This study also demonstrated MCB adsorbent better capability to remove 4-nitrophenol compounds in neutral and basic environments.

Keywords: recycling; waste tyre; carbon black; KOH impregnated; adsorbent; 4-nitrophenol; adsorption; isotherm; kinetics; wastewater treatment.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEWM.2021.115381

International Journal of Environment and Waste Management, 2021 Vol.27 No.4, pp.455 - 474

Received: 17 Sep 2018
Accepted: 07 Jan 2020
Published online: 01 Jun 2021 *

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