NITRATE REMOVAL FROM WATER BY ACTIVATED CARBONS DEVELOPED FROM PINUS CANARIENSIS CONES

NUNELL G.V.; BONELLI P.R.; CUKIERMAN A.L.

Buenos Aires

Simposio; Symposium Exploring the Frontiers of Chemistry: Challenges for the 21st Century; 2019

Universidad de Buenos Aires- Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (FCEyN) y The Ben-Gurion of the Negev University (Israel)

Pinus canariensis cones were used to prepare activated carbons (ACs) directed for the treatment of water contaminated with nitrate ions. The ACs were developed by chemical activation process applying phosphoric acid as the activating agent. The main physicochemical characteristics and nitrate adsorption capacity were determined and compared with those of a commercial AC sample recommended for anions uptake. Nitrate adsorption capacity was evaluated from determination of the adsorption isotherms and their proper description by the Langmuir model. In order to increase nitrate adsorption capacity of the ACs, a post-treatment with saturated urea solution was performed. The effect of post-treatment on the main chemical and textural characteristics of the AC and on their ability to remove nitrate was studied. It was found that post-treatment with urea led to a pronounced decrease in the surface area of the CA, however significantly improved its nitrate adsorption capacity, even doubling that determined for the commercial sample. Enhanced nitrate adsorption onto the urea-treated AC is consistent with the development of surface basic groups and their enhanced contents of elemental nitrogen.