Adsorption of Triton X-100 in aqueous solution on activated carbon obtained from waste tires for wastewater decontamination

Adsorption of Triton X-100 non-ionic surfactant in aqueous solution on activated carbon was performed. The activated carbon was prepared from waste tires by chemical impregnation at 10, 20, 30, and 40% w center dot w(-1) of potassium hydroxide. Two carbonization temperatures, 700 and 900 degrees C were used with a heating rate of 2 degrees C center dot min(-1) and a 3 h retention time in N-2 flow of 100 mL center dot min(-1). The carbons obtained were characterized by N-2 adsorption at - 196 degrees C, scanning electron microscopy, infrared microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and titration of functional groups. In adsorption studies of Triton X-100, the amount of adsorbed Triton X-100 was characterized by High-performance Liquid Chromatography and Langmuir, Freundlich, Toth, and Redlich-Peterson models were evaluated. The solids showed an area between 42 and 528 m(2)center dot g(-1) with characteristic isotherms of micro-mesoporous solids, and a pore distribution of 7.0 to 8.0 angstrom by Dubinin-Astakov with a chemical surface having acid and basic groups. The carbon that adsorbed the most Triton X-100 was QK409 with Q(0) 220 mg center dot g(-1).