Batch biosorption removal of total organic carbon from laundry aqueous media using raw pine and acid/microwave irradiation treated pine cone powder

Experimental realization was carried out using available activated carbon pine cone powder (ACPP) as alternative adsorbent for characterized and removal of total organic carbon (TOC) from laundry aqueous solutions, phosphoric acid as an activated factor and microwave as heating source. X-ray diffraction (XRD) spectrum, Fourier-transform infrared spectrometry (FTIR), nitrogen adsorption–desorption isotherms and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller specific surface area and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) were used to study the surface properties of the ACPP. Using microwave irradiation gives rise to decrease of operation time, savings and homogeneous heating of samples, as opposed to furnace heating. The effects of heat methods, H3PO4 concentration, microwave radiation power, microwave radiation time, temperature, initial TOC concentration, ACPP dosage, primary solution pH and soaking time were experimentally studied by batch method to estimate the adsorption capacity, kinetics and equilibrium. The chemical composition of ACPP before and after the modified form is discussed in relation to the XRD, FTIR, SEM and specific surface area results. The results showed that the surface and chemical composition of ACPP samples were modified by H3PO4 under microwave radiation are changed after modification. Experimental results showed that the highest removal efficiency and adsorption capacity for removal of TOC took place at basic pH and concentration of 20% of H3PO4. The TOC uptake process obeyed the pseudo-first-order kinetic expression and was best qualified by the Langmuir isotherm. Thermodynamic studies revealed that TOC adsorption on ACPP was exothermic and also spontaneous in nature. The results showed that pine cone could be used as a low-cost alternative for removal of TOC from laundry water.