Activated Carbon from Fly Ash of Heavy Fuel Oil: Characterization and its Utilization for Removal and Determination of Chlorophenonls in Water

A. Abu-Rizaiza¹, M.W. Kadi² and M.S. El-Shahawi ²

¹Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Meteorology, Environment and Arid Land Agriculture, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

²Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, P.O.Box 80203, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia.

Corresponding Author E-mail: malsaeed@kau.edu.sa

DOI : http://dx.doi.org/10.13005/bbra/2548

ABSTRACT: Activated carbons (AC) prepared from volatile fly ash (FA) of heavy fuel oil via gasification with combined steam - CO₂ was characterized and used as a low- cost adsorbent for removal of chlorophenols (CPs) e.g. 2-chlorophenol (2-CP), 4-chlorophenol (4-CP), and 2,4,6- tetra chlorphenol (TCP) in water. At pH< 2.0, maximum CPs uptake was achieved and the average half-life time (t_1/2) of the equilibrium adsorption of CPs was in the range 0.80 ± 0.01- 1.1 ± 0.04 h. Data suggested use of AC in packed column for separation and determination of various concentrations (0.5-100 µgL^-1) of CPs in water (0.5-1.0 L).  Complete extraction and recovery (97.4 + 2.9 %, n=5) of CPs were achieved at 2 mL min^-1 flow rate. Analysis of CPs spiked onto tap- and seawater were also analyzed by AC packed column and the results were compared with the standard HPLC method at 95% confidence (P-0.05, n=5).  The experimental student t test (texp 1.81-1.93) and F (Fexp 1.21-5.76) values were lower than the tabulated t (tcrit. = 2.78) and F (6.38), respectively. AC packed column provides remarkable selectivity, reproducibility, and cost-effectiveness towards removal and/ or determination of CPs. AC adsorbent may serve positively in point-of-care use.

KEYWORDS: Activated Carbon; Adsorption;  Chlorophenols Removal; Fly Ash;HPLC; Water

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