In this study, a low-cost and easily recyclable porous green adsorbent (magnetic porous loofah biochar, MPLB) was synthesized by modifying the almost zero-cost loofah biochar material with Fe3O4. The successful synthesis of the material was demonstrated by XRD, FTIR, SEM, VSM, and BET. In addition, the material exhibits outstanding magnetic separation performance (40.01 umg/g) allowing for rapid recovery within just 90 s. The adsorption process of phenol on MPLB was found to be spontaneous and endothermic. The experimental data fit exceptionally well with the pseudo-second-order kinetic model and Langmuir model (R2 > 0.99), indicating that the dominant adsorption mechanisms involved monolayer adsorption and chemisorption. These interactions were attributed to host–guest interaction, π–π conjugation, hydrogen bonding, and pore filling. The maximum adsorption capacity calculated using the Langmuir model at 298 K is 39.4 mg/g. Importantly, even after undergoing seven cycles of recycling, MPLB retained 78% of its initial adsorption capacity. In simulated experiments employing MPLB for phenol removal in actual wastewater, an impressive removal rate of 96.4% was achieved. In conclusion, MPLB exhibits significant potential as an effective adsorbent for phenol removal in wastewater.

This study investigated durian (Durio zibethinus) peels to produce powdered activated carbon (DPAC). The influence of process variables such as carbonization temperature, activation time, contact time, CO2 flow rate, and adsorption dosage was optimized using response surface methodology (RSM). A six-factor and two levels Box–Behnken design (BBD) was used to optimize the parameters. The independent variables were activation temperature (°C), duration (min), CO2 flow rate during the activation process (L/min), irradiation of adsorbent (kGy), irradiation duration (min), and adsorbent dosage (g) while phenol removal (mg/L) was the dependent variable (response). Following the observed correlation coefficient values, the design was fitted to a quadratic model (R2 = 0.9896). The optimal removal efficiency (97.25%) was observed at an activation temperature of 900 °C, activation time of 30 min, CO2 flow rate of 0.05 L/min, irradiation dose of 100 kGy, contact time of 35 min and adsorption dosage of 0.75 g. The optimal DPAC showed a BET surface of 281.33 m2/ g. The removal efficiency was later compared with a commercially available activated carbon which shows a 98.56% phenol removal. The results show that the durian peel could be an effective precursor for making activated carbon for phenol removal, and irradiation can significantly enhance surface activation.

The paper deals with a comparative study of equilibrium and kinetics of phenol adsorption from aqueous solutions by means of commercial activated carbons and semi-cokes, differing in the nature of feedstock, production technology and structural characteristics. The main adsorption parameters are calculated with the usage of Langmuir and Dubinin–Radushkevich equations. The change in the characteristics of the structure and state of the surface of semi-coke P2 as a result of modification is estimated. It was found that phenol adsorption kinetics is described by a pseudo-second-order model. The adsorption rate constants and the coefficient of external diffusion mass transfer are calculated. It is proved that phenol extraction from aqueous solutions presents a mixed-diffusion nature, and the process rate is limited by external mass transfer for 13 min for SKD-515 and 22 min for ABG. To increase the adsorption capacity, the oxidative modification of the semi-coke P2 was carried out. Considering the economic and technological aspects, ABG semi-coke is recognized as a promising sorbent for phenol extraction from aqueous media.

본 연구는 흡착과 막분리를 결합시킨 혼성 시스템을 폐수처리에 응용하기 위한 기초 연구로서, 페놀을 분말활성탄에 의해 흡착하고, 흡착된 페놀을 활성탄과 함께 정밀여과에 의해 분리하였다. 분말활성탄의 입자크기가 클수록 여과저항은 감소하였으며, 활성탄의 양이 적을수록 단절점(break point) 이전의 투과농도 변화율과 페놀 부하 변화율은 증가하였다. 분말활성탄의 입자크기가 작을수록 활성탄의 외표면적과 경막물질전달계수의 증가로 인해 단절점 전의 투과농도는 감소하였다.

The effects of chlorine dioxide on the oxidation of phenol and disinfection were studied in the various test water conditions. With the 0.3mg/l of chlorine dioxide dose, the spiked phenol(initial concentration: 0.1mg/l) was completely oxidized within 10 minute. The removal rate of phenol was much faster in distilled water than in ground water and filtered water. The applied dose of chlorine dioxide concentrations higher than 0.2mg/l was sufficiently enough for the complete oxidation of phenol. However, with 0.1mg/l of dose, chlorine dioxide can oxidize only 20% of the spiked phenol. The reactive substances present in test water may influence the chlorine dioxide demand in water. pH effect of oxidation rate was also investigated. Increasing the pH, the removal rate of phenol was found to be increased. The disinfection test of chlorine and chlorine dioxide were conducted and compared. The lethal effect for the both disinfectants are similarly powerful. The time for 99% inactivation of E. coli was obtained within 120 sec with the 0.2mg/l of each dose.

The characteristics of phenol removal and UV254 matters variance were investigated and compared by the variation of operating factors (NaCl concentration, air flow rate, initial phenol concentration) in electrochemical reaction (ER) and dielectric barrier discharge plasma reaction (DBDPR), respectively. The phenol removal rate was shown as 1st order both in ER and DBDPR. Also, the absorbance of UV254 matters which means aromatic intermediates was analyzed to investigate the complete phenol degradation process. In ER, the phenol degradation and aromatic intermediates production rates increased by the increase of NaCl concentration. However, in DBDPR, the variation of NaCl concentration had no effect on the degradation of phenol and UV254 matters. Air flow rate had a little effect on the removal of phenol and the variation of UV254 matters in ER. The phenol removal rate in ER was a little higher than that in DBDPR. The produced H2O2 and O3 amounts in ER were 2 times and 10 times higher than those in DBDPR. The chlorine intermediates (ClO2 and free chlorine) were produced in ER, however, they were not produced in DBDPR.

Decomposition of non-biodegradable contaminants such as phenol contained in water was investigated using a dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma reactor in the aqueous solutions with continuous oxygen bubbling. Effects of various parameters on the removal of phenol in aqueous solution with high-voltage streamer discharge plasma are studied. In order to choose plasma gas, gas of three types (argon, air, oxygen) were investigated. After the selection of gas, effects of 1st voltage (80 ～220 V), oxygen flow rate (2 ～7 L/min), pH (3 ～11), and initial phenol concentration (12.5 ～100.0 mg/L) on phenol degradation and change of UV254 absorbance were investigated. Absorbance of UV254 can be used as an indirect indicator of phenol degradation and the generation and disappearance of the non-biodegradable organic compounds. Removal of phenol and COD were found to follow pseudo first-order kinetics. The removal rate constants for phenol and COD of phenol were 5.204 × 10-1 min-1 and 3.26 × 10-2 min-1, respectively.

The adsorption experiment of phenol(Ph) from aqueous solution on granular activated carbon was studied in order to design the fixed-bed adsorption column. The experimental data were analyzed by unsteady-state, one-dimensional heterogeneous model. Finite element method(FEM) was applied to analyze the sensitivity of parameter and to predict the fixed-bed adsorption column performance on operation variable changes. The prediction model showed similar effect to mass transfer and intraparticle diffusion coefficient changes suggesting that both parameter present mass transfer rate limits for GAC-phenol system. The Freundlich constants had a greater effect than kinetic parameters for the performance of fixedbed adsorption column. FEM solution facilitated prediction of concentration history in solution and within adsorbent particle.