Adsorption of phenol from diluted aqueous solutions by activated carbons obtained from bagasse, oil palm shell and pericarp of rubber fruit

Activated carbons prepared from bagasse, oil palm shell and pericarp of rubber fruit were used to study the adsorption of phenol from aqueous solution. The obtained activated carbons were characterized for iodine number, BET surface area, surface functional groups, and point of zero charge (pHpzc). Adsorption of phenol in aqueous solution at pH 2 and pH 12 were determined by UV-Visible spectrophotometer at 30oC. The adsorption data were fitted to Freundrich isotherm. The adsorption capacity of phenol of the different types of activated carbon was approximately the same.